Relaxation( WitchdemonAU by @ask-suauwitchanddemons and @meku95 ) for @jambudweek
After the day they had.. They need this moment....
Today.
Today was a particularly hard one, and in their line of work that could mean death. lucky that wasn't the case. Still it drained them.
It was supposed to be like any other demon hunt. They'd pick up clues, follow its trail, then defeat it.
Easy enough.
Except it wasn't. Finding it was easy enough, didn't hide its trail of destruction from anyone, much less a teen witch and her teen demon partner. It didn't scurry when they announced their attention.
It smirked actually and turned its sight to Steven before asking her partner, a very peculiar question.
"How do you think you taste over a spitfire?"
it got an answer; being doused in flames.
It screamed and howled in pain before finally depping to its knees, defeated and dead, roasted thoroughly. Its body should've crumbled, leaving the gem... like all demons..That didn't happen.
Instead out of the demon corpse came a slightly smaller version of their opponent..Same grayish skin, bead like green eyes, orcish stature, only being as tall as Steven with less muscle mass, opposed to the towering menace it was (thought it was) a moment ago.
The demon got wise pretty quick as it stared into Steven's eyes and with it's new wisdom did the smart thing.
It ran from them.
Five hours of running, of chasing, of continuing defeating this demon had them sweaty, dirty, foul smelling, tired, annoyed..and needy for relaxation.
Which is why they needed this moment.
As soon as they walked into their shared home, the witch made a beeline for the bathroom, stripping her clothes as she did and tossing on the floor without care. Steven would usually complain or tease, but he was in the exact same mindset as her, but had to wait for his shower. He just hoped she didn't take too long as he picked up her discarded clothing and tossed them into the hamper.
He decided to set a calming mood in their living room, conjuring some flowers for his garden into a vase and setting them on a table, as well as a couple of candles, lighting them. They gave off a sweet relaxing scent of Sage, Chamomile, Lavender, and Thyme, and gave the red room a nice relaxing dim glow. He finished the setting by turning on some smooth jazz.
He smiled at his work, and smiled deeper as he heard her coming out of the bathroom yelling that it was free. He took off running following the same attitude of reckless discarding of clothing as his lady.
Connie, now feeling so fresh and so clean (clean) in a very light blue house dress, with a pair of denim shorts and white tank top, her hair in a loose ponytail; shook her head as she saw Steven clothes on the floor, opting to put them in their shared hamper. Hearing the light music and smelling scents from the room made her curious. She was touched when she peered in, seeing her dapper demon work.
Touched, but it missed something. With a snap of her fingers she marched into the kitchen, got a bowl from the cabinet and various fruits from the fridge. She carefully placed in the bowl Grapes, cherries, and various berries. She sliced apples, oranges, mango, and banana, before adding them as well. She gathered some pistachio, almonds and pumpkin seeds and placed them in also.
She looked at her relaxing mix of treats with pride before carrying it into the room and placing it between the candles, right in the center of the table, not far out of their reach at all, no matter how they positioned themselves on the couch.
"That looks good." A gruff flirtatiously teasing voice said from behind as clawed palms held her stomach gently and a horned head rested upon her shoulder.
Usually, she would fight his hold, make him work for it before reluctantly deciding to give in. Right now...
"Just doing my part." She stated as she placed her hands on tops of his holding them there as she snuggled into his embrace and bare chest, and as she gave him nuzzling smiled against his cheek.
"Couch, Steven?"
"Couch, my lady."
She guided him to their furniture and sat him first before laying her head against his sweatpants covered thigh as she laid down stretched on the couch, her left leg dangling off the furniture a bit.
She reached for a couple of grapes to feed him
as he stroked her head affectionately. Content sighs, slight chewing, and the light music was the only noise in the room as they immersed themselves in the calming relaxing aura of the room and the affection of each other.
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Connie yawned as she sat at her laptop. Eyes drooping as she typed in the data for LHW RD latest experiment. She shook her head to keep focus. She wasn't behind per say, but she had a good flow going on and she didn't want to lose it. She took a quick moment to stretch, cracking her hands and back. Smacking her tongue against her mouth, she turned to the clock. 2:30AM.
"I've worked later." She argued with herself. As she was about to begin again, her phone vibrated, a message.
"If it's Peri, I swear to Shiva, I'm gonna poof her."
Connie reached for the phone and opened it.
A smirk came to her face when she saw it was from her Mister.
"Back on earth..🥱 Tired."
Connie typed back instantly despite yawning.
"WB Mister. How'd it go?"
"Slow ..for a diamond visit. Nothing big happened...but nothing big really does in this era."
"Missing the wild days of the past?😆"
"Only thing I'm missing is a bed. Yours empty ..Give me yours."
Connie scoffed at the message "How do you know that? I could've been sleeping all this time."
"You're definitely not...Why aren't you sleeping? it's 2:35 am."
She pursed her lips in defiance. "If you know that much, you know why I'm up. Burning the midnight oil."
"🤬"
"Rude, Mister." She released an impish laugh.
"I'm coming over. You're at your Little Homeworld residence?"
"Yes..Wait, are you really coming? Steven no.. stay home and get some sleep"
She didn't get a response from him, but a few minutes later heard the downstairs door unlocking, opening, closing and locking again.
"Well, that explains the no text." She joked fighting another yawn as she heard the sound of boiling hot water being discharged into a cup.
She turned back to her computer ready to begin typing again when a cup was placed beside her laptop. She took a sip and growled.
"Chamomile.. You have some nerve, trying to make me doze off."
She turned around and quickly turned red.
While it wasn't the first time she saw him in this state of undress. it has been a bit of time pass and he stripped to his boxers so suddenly.
"Hurry up, save your work and drink that tea. So we can sleep."
His voice was so groggy and exhausted, his eyes had opened and he looked like he was just hanging on to consciousness
'My poor Mister.' Connie thought as she complied with his commands, in playful defeat. She took her time turning off the laptop and sipping her tea sitting crossed leg in her swivel chair. She turned to him, attending to make him blush at the sight of her undergarments under his loose fitting turtleneck, that she was snuggled with.
Only to see him sitting up, eyes closed and drooling a bit.
Connie didn't hesitate to take a picture and make it her new background pic. "Swooon!, so adorable." Closing the phone, she got up from her seat and walked over to her sleeping hybrid of a man, stroking his locks and caressing his whiskers cheeks and chin.
"Ok Mister, you win." She said to herself as she laid him down. She laid down right beside him, head on his heart, legs around his thigh. She smiled at the thumping in her ear. letting it ease her to sleep, the last thing she remembered was him holding her around her hips and waist, The feel of his lips kissing her crown and him calling her his 'sweet Heartberry.'
Connie stretched as she walked into her room, ready for bed. Today was an almost perfect birthday. The smile on her face was as glowing as it was when she got to Little Homeworld.
She still remembered seeing Amethyst and Lion appear outside her room, urging her to come with them to Little Homeworld for something big and all hands need to be on deck, Connie was out the house and on lion within a minute; sword strapped, ready to fight.
So imagine her surprise when they slid out of lion's portal Into a party, celebrating her. Hearing both the residents of Beach city and Little Homeworld wish her a happy birthday. Receiving gifts from everyone and getting hugs and praise by the entirety of the crystal gems...Well almost.
Steven wasn't there. Haven't been around for quite awhile now. Ten months since anyone heard from him. No text, voicemail...Nothing.
Her smile fell a bit when she thought of him. Was he well? Was he hurt? Did he find what he was looking for? Did he miss them? Did he miss her? Did he know it was her birthday? Why didn't he take her with him? Were they still Jam Buds?
"Stop Connie. Enough of those thoughts." Connie shook her head as she got ready to sleep, trying to keep her good vibes. With a sigh, she laid in her bed eyes close as she gave a silently prayed for Steven's return as she did every night. It wasn't long til she was fast asleep.
"Connie...Connie.."
Connie groaned as she heard someone calling her name. Feeling someone caressing her cheek with their rugged palm, the touch held a large measure of familiarity, enough to make her snuggle into it.
"Hey..Birthday Berry."
Her eyes opened instantaneously at the name. She looked up to a starlit sky, and a familiar smiling face. She reached up shakingly, touching his slightly whiskered face.
"This..This is a dream right? You're not really with me right now."
"I mean... Astral projection so.."
She could feel her eyes mist up as he chuckled. Sitting up on his lap, she cupped his cheeks taking in his appearance clearly.
His hair was longer than before, in thick curls reaching his mid back. His eyes held a bit of roughness mixed with his natural gentleness in them. He had a couple scars on his cheek and above his left eye. He had a tan, his skin almost the color of beach sand. His face as a whole was more defined, but still retained that Steven-y stature.
"Steven…"
She grasped his red and black star shirt as glaring deeply into his eyes.
"You left without telling anyone, anything.."
"Well, I told dad."
"A week after you left! The only communication ANY of us got!"
"I..I 'm sorry...I had to go…"
"Did you have to leave that? Couldn't you have said goodbye...To me at least?"
"I'm sorry, Connie.. I'm so sorry, but I had to do it."
"You left us..left me..You promise we'll face everything together and you left me again...I would've left with you."
"I know..I considered it...but that would've been selfish of me."
she remained silent for a moment before she broke down, sobbing on his chest. She allowed herself to be held by him as she berated him for leaving without so much as a word, for hurting everyone when he did. Steven took it all as he rubbed her back and kissed her crown, whispering apologies.
It would be a few minutes before she settled down into his hold allowing herself to bask in the warmth of her best friend, holding him closer afraid he'll disappear again.
"I miss you so much, Biscuit."
Steven deepened his hold around her. "I miss you too, Berry. Think about you and everyone, everyday."
"Where are you now? Close by?"
Steven sighed sadly at the hope in her voice
"Sorry, but no. Still far away. Some small inn in South America, I think . "
"Explains the tan…" She looked up at him with shy puffy eyes. "It looks good on you."
"That seems to be the consensus around here as well."
Connie arched an eyebrow as she sat up out of his hug. Her arms folded across her middle. "Oh, really? You've gotten popular with girls now?"
Steven rubbed his head sheepishly. "I mean, not really popular..Just had some girls stare at me and approached me ever so often."
"Uh-huh. " Connie sighed as she looked him up and down. He was still a big guy, but he had put on some muscle. She found her cheeks burning a bit when she drank in his appearance as a whole.
" I guess I can understand where they're coming from."
Steven her a teasing chuckle. "You're not jealous now, are you?"
Connie looked away with a side pout. "Oh be quiet…"
"You've gotten prettier, since last time I saw you."
Connie tried to hold her anger, but broke at one glance of his boyish smile. She found it hard to look at him so she kept her face turned, but looked through the corner of her eye.
"You think so?
Steven nodded feeling a small heat come to his own face. He took in her nape length side bang hair. Her bright black eyes, her full lips, her pointed nose, and deep glossy brown skin.
His blush intensified when he realized she was in her sleepwear which consisted of one of his old blue and yellow shirts, and thigh length sweatpants. Both which hugged her frame gently, but still gave him an idea about how much she grew in his absence.
"Steven. ..You're staring."
Steven faked a cough before turning away from Connie,who giggled.
"Sorry.. Just..Appreciating how much you have grown."
"Oh, and exactly what are you 'appreciating', you vagabond." Connie smirked as she leaned forward with an impishly seductive glint in her eyes.
"Connie.."
"Well…"
"You're serious "
"I wanna know."
Steven didn't say anything before pulling her in close and resting his head right her breast, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Everything…"
"You don't play fair, Steven." Connie held him close, her left arm around his shoulders, her right hand holding the back of his head as she kissed his very tip top." I should be hitting you, kicking your butt all across the astral plane."
Her grip tightened as she continued. " But All I want for you is to come home..come back to us..to me.."
"Nini-"
Connie shook her head. "I won't ask you to though..No matter how much I want to. Don't think it'll do any good."
"If you asked, with the way you're hugging me right now, there's a high chance I would return quickly."
She giggled as she began to stroke his head. "I won't. Seems like this journey of yours, is doing you good...Just try to keep me updated for now on..I worry about you."
He looked up at her a somewhat pleased look in his eye. "I can do that."
"Thank you, Biscuit."
Connie very reluctantly removed herself from Steven hold, but still held on to his hands.
"Truly, thank you, for visiting tonight. Seeing that you're doing well..That you're safe...How handsome you've become. I couldn't ask for anything more..It's the best gift I could have received. You officially made this my best birthday."
Steven blushed a bit teary eyed." Aw, shucks Ni'...That's sweet of you, but I didn't just come visit you empty handed...You don't have to get up early right?"
"Nooo. Why?"
Steven smirked as he pointed to the west. Connie looked towards where he was pointing and realized a few things.
One, they were on a hill.
Two, there was an outdoor stage below them.
Three, There was one seat, a throne actually, facing the stage...that had her name on it.
Connie arched an eyebrow as she turned towards her Biscuit.
"You throwing me a concert?"
Steven lifted her up in a cradle, catching her pleasantly of guard.
"I'm throwing you a concert."
Connie yelped and laughed as Steven leaped from their hill and glided down towards the concert area. He landed gently and placed her on her feet, when they realized, he was taller than ker by a quarter head. Dual flame cheeks appeared in their faces.
"Oh, wow..Gotta tilt up a bit to meet your eyes."
"Yeah..You do.."
The two stared for a moment before chuckling. He guided her into her seat giving her hand a small kiss before jumping onto the stage himself. With a snap of his fingers duplicates of him appeared each with a different instrument; A bass, a guitar, a drum set and a keyboard. With a flick of the wrist, a mic appeared in his hand. He gave his band a nod before they started playing an upbeat, high energy tune.
Steven took a deep breath before he let use a husky deeper crisper voice than she ever heard as he sang a rendition of 'Gold'.
Dream of anything;
I'll make it all come true
Everything you need
Is all I'll have for you
I'm forever
Always by your side
Whenever you need a friend
I'm never far behind
Connie couldn't help the excitement running through her spine,or the swelling of her heart as he performed. It had been too long since she saw her Steven, this energetic, this happy and free. Not to mention his voice now shook her in all the right ways. She always thought his singing voice was sweet to listen to and was one of the things she always found attractive..but now she found herself parched from listening.
Steven put on a show indeed. From upbeat songs like 'Gold' To slower ones like 'Fly me to the moon' he made sure that she never left his sight more than needed. Every verse, chorus, melody and bridge was dedicated to her alone, and he wanted to convey that. He wanted her to realize that she was still in his heart. All in all the concert was a hit.
It was after two hours on stage that Steven stepped off the stage mic abandoned. A bit sweaty, a bit haggard, but accomplished. Connie shivered at his appearance, a very good one.
The band started to play a memorable tune, one that made Connie teared up, smiling as she did.
"Steven, really."
Steven nodded, giving her a smile. Holding his hand out to her, which she gladly took. The two began swaying gently to the beat as Steven began to sing
" The stars are out,
the band's on the scene
I'm here with my sweet Connie
Come on and share this dream with me"
Connie didn't miss a beat as she began to sing her head meeting Stevens chest, as she interlock her hand with Steven's.
"in space, on land or the deep sea,
anyway place is fine, if it's you and me
Come on and share this dream with me."
Steven cheeks were turned pink at the silky soft tone coming from his Berry as she continued to sing.
"I won't stop till it's done, a dream crafted with all the joy, we can think ooo~oof."
Steven gave her a cheeky grin before twirling her away a bit, still holding on to her hand.
" I'll keep it fun, fueling this dream with our love!"
He twirled her back to him, she laughed throughout the whole thing, as she found herself caught in a hug. She eagerly returned it as their voices harmonized.
" Our hearts and minds, in harmonious unity
don't matter the scene, as long as you're with me
Now and forever, share this dream with me."
The two reunited jam buds gazed at each other, matching smiles on their faces. The band was gone, this was the last song. Steven stroked her hair as she snuggled deeper into him, gripping his back.
"Need to get back to my head"
"I know. I won't stop you, but can I ask for one thing."
Steven looked down and nodded "Whatever you need Birthday Berry."
"Dip down"
Steven did as she requested and was surprised when she covered his eyes and felt her kiss his lips. Not so much that he didn't kiss her back. Connie's hand went from his eyes to his cheek as the kiss deepened and tears fell from both of them. They broke the kiss chuckling as they stroked each other's tears away.
"I don't want to leave you again."
"I know, I know..but I'll keep you updated.. when I can. We'll do this again. I promise. "
"I'm gonna hold you to that.You promise to keep me updated..so please text me or something when you get the chance."
Steven nodded as he gave one more chaste kiss. It was the last thing she felt before she woke up.
Connie woke up with a groan as her cell phone alarm rang at six a.m.
"The hell..it's early on a Saturday." She turned off the phone alarm as she laid back thinking about her dream .Smiling at the memory of her dream before shaking her head, ready to write it off as just that. When she got a message on her phone.
Opening her phone, her heartbeat speed up as she started to laugh through tears.
Hope you have a good one today, Dream Jam bud. Next time, I'll tell you about my travels and I can't say when but...I will return to you guys, one day. I love you, Dream berry.
From ID: Biscuit.
Connie hugged the phone close to her heart. It was all real..Everything actually happened.
Drive/Home:The path to you (Astral connection part 3)
Connie looked outside of her window with a groan. She was feeling lonely and touch-starved. She hasn't seen Steven in the last two months, the last they met being their time in the dream...When he told of his visions of his mother. The last time they talked was a week after, a small sweet text with a little information about his next destination, though it had a typo..
‘Can’t wait to meet up again. I'll contact you when I reach my next destination; it's a beach tourist town. I'll pick you up there for your birthday. I love you, Dream Berry’
Connie sighed, a mixture of sadness and pining in the same breath.
“What a way to bring in my twentieth birthday.” She looked at the clock near her bed reading 12:30 am.She officially turned twenty, thirty minutes ago...More importantly to her, it was officially one year since Steven and her became ‘Dream buds’.
“Is he having second thoughts, regrets?”
Connie has been wondering about this since for a couple of weeks...Within the dream they crafted, they acted like newlyweds. They talked intimately, sharing secrets no one else knew, like him no longer being a vegetarian and her getting a tattoo on her right inner thigh...A black and red star.
They kissed each tenderly, passionately, and hungrily, in ways and places only they could. They touched each other in ways that only they could. They loved each other in ways special to them. He loved her in ways no other man or woman would ever be allowed to; an exchange of each other's last bit of mental and spiritual chastity.
She was grateful it was through astral connection and not yet a physical one, or they might've been in trouble after the first few times.. She did start to take precautions in the physical plane, for when...If they did.
“What a way to wake from a dream though. Even more tired, but so much more...Everything else.”
His little carnal text of thank you’s and praise for her amorous nature, they were always the highlight of waking up after those types of nights. It was revitalizing to have him not just enjoy her more... Erotic side...but appreciate it; welcomed it.
"Though Dreamscuit is more libidinous, than I expected." She let out a silent chuckle as she thought of one particular time they were carnivorous with each other.
The scene was a hidden spring he found on his travels, surrounded by tropical foliage and a waterfall spilling into it. He was in it, bare as birth, looking towards her who sat on the edge in her nightwear. The story of how he came across it was simple.
He fell in after chasing down and poofing a falcon like gem mutant. The mutant was causing problems for a nearby cape town with its destructive behavior, running through shops and breaking merchandise, ravaging the forest nearby, rampaging through the streets. He put an end to it after a chase through the forest, and a well placed shield bash after hitching a ride in its back.
He plummeted, as the falcon was already diving in attempt to throw him off, leaving him flying down the path set for him. Which happened to be in the spring, he was slightly knocked out due to the force of entry. He stated he dreamed about her during that time...Always dreamed about her when he came here.
Her asking him to tell her his dreams sealed the deal as he swam over to her, innocently; placed his hands on her knees, innocently ; and suggested he showed her his dream; INNOCENTLY . She agreed of course, it was her Innocent Dreamberry.
Which is why she was surprised when he examined her new tattoo thoroughly, through kneading, suckling and nipping. When he touched her in ways and places she herself dreamed about., stealing her breath, making lay back as he revealed his fantasies through action..and unknowingly, allow Connie to live out her own, in a manner of speaking.
At the end, she sat upon him in the spring, peppering his neck and chin with kisses and nips as he held and instinctively caressed her in away only her can. A way only she would allow him too. They were bare, bitten, bathed in sweat and spring water, and felt a bit bestial in their actions; but there were love with the lust, care with the carnality, romance with ravishing, solicitude with the sex. Their appetitive actions were fueled by their unyielding adoration for each other. It was wonderful..as was the three rounds after; they turned out to be quite the carnivorous couple.
"Couple..are we a couple?"
Small thoughts like that plagued her over the last two weeks, like an annoying bug that won't die and she couldn't stand herself for having them. Six weeks of complete Steven silence led her to uncertainty, over-worry, doubt. It brought thoughts of him being hurt, lost, in danger..even..
"No..He's ok..He's fine..much better than before he left on all fronts."
A calming thought that was compounded by even worse ones...Her thoughts went from his well being to their new status and the possibility of him no longer seeing her like that. Maybe he found someone else he can be physically intimate with instead of just in a dreamscape? Maybe he found someone better to be with? Maybe he found a better life in the town he was going to..and didn't want to break her heart.
Is this what it was to miss your partner...your lover? Could they even say they were together.. Everything happened in their dreams. Besides fatigue nothing physical passed on.
" Maybe, I'm delusional and even sent those texts to myself." Connie laughed a harsh wet laugh as she laid on her bed. She was so pathetic right now. She knew better. She knows better.. She was just missing him..Badly.
"Get it together, Maheswaran...Just because he's not around doesn't mean your world stops and everything you shared is moot. You went ten months without him and kept it together. Besides, you know your Biscuit, your Steven...Your man...Whatever reason he's been silent, it's important."
Rationality and logic sucks sometimes...She did know Steven and because she knew him, she could reason that he going silent was probably important...Yet stupid. He has a track record of ghosting people because he believes it's the right thing to do at the moment or he didn't want to burden someone..That thought just stroked her ire. She looked towards her phone and all the messages she sent him without a response..
"I'm gonna smother him next time we meet.. I swear to the stars."
Just as she was about to send another text..A roar was heard outside her window. She turned to see Lion, by himself looking up expectantly, ready for his mistress to mount him.
"Well, at least there is one dependable guy in my life."
Connie smirked as she got her jacket, her sword and went to meet her current favorite boy in the whole universe. She kissed the beast skull as she nuzzled close to him. Who in turned nuzzled against the crook of her neck before licking her cheek, making her giggle. She really could count on Lion to make her feel better.
"Why couldn't you be human, you'd be the best partner. Adorable, dependable, loyal, near ageless, able to teleport where you want..NOT LARS, but of course you have to be a lion, so I can only love you like a son."
She mounted the pink beast, ready for wherever they were going. With a roar, Lion created a portal and the two were off.
"So where are you taking me this time, Lion. A meadow, a battlefield, a forest." She chuckled as she held onto the beast. This wasn't the first time Lion took her out on a stroll alone. Far from it, this has been a common occurrence ever since Steven's surrender all them years ago.
She was surprised to see them on the beach behind the temple..The place where she officially met Steven. He bent down allowing her to mount off him. She turned to the sea rested her sword down and watched the serene waves as Lion gave her one last lick and nuzzle, before walking off...As he does on their 'dates', until the time he's needed. She sat pulling her knees to her chest as she took in the scent of the beach with her eyes closed.
The sand, surf and saltwater; his old smell, comforting as always...His smell now was a lot more woody, musty, musky. earthly..It was consuming, arousing and energizing…
Thinking about it made her imagine him. His broad chest, large limbs,long locks, whiskered face, rugged face and strong let pleasant breath. She was so lost in her thoughts that they could literally feel his touch upon her.
The fell of his arms holding her in that special way, around her middle and just above her chest. His inner thighs brushing against her hips as he sat her on his crossed legs, the feel of his whiskered chin on her collarbone. She could feel him, smell him.
"So this is what it means to be in love.. To long for someone so much that you can feel their presence even when they are not around. You're not even here..I don't know where you are, but I feel your touch, smell your scent... Isn't that stupid.,,"
"I wouldn't say that, Birthday Berry."
Connie's eyes opened up a husky, wine-like voice, as she looked up to Steven's smirking face. She looked past him for a moment before stretching out her hand to the left as flexing her fist.
"I..I'm not dreaming."
"Oh."
"I was going to summon a wiffle bat and bash your head in."
"Ouch.."
" I can't...I can't see the edge of our scene...Cause it's not a scene… It's real..,"
Steven kissed her crown tenderly as her breath became short, her eyes moistened and her hands trembled as she reached up and touched his face. It was warm..much warmer than the last twelve months. They chuckled, giggled and laughed as the tears began to fall from both of them. Connie kissed his temple as they held each other closed. Silently whispering to each other affirmation after affirmation, that this moment was reality, he was there with her, she was there with him, they were holding, kissing basking in each other in reality.
Connie turned towards him to hold her best friend and be held by him, before looking up. " Was it real?..Last year.. Those times..Was that really.."
She never got to finish as he kissed her tenderly.. The same way he's done it for the last year..Except more chapped, more full, had more heat, softer, gentler..yet rugged. It was his kiss..just not as a dream and she melted for it all the same.
He broke it and looked at her before whispering in her ear about the spring. About what they did in the spring. About the bites, the sounds, the words..Her mark's on his back. About him paying so much attention to her star.
Connie gulped as she covered her face in embarrassment.
"It was all real, Dream Berry. So to speak." He stroked her hair, as he reaffirmed last year.
Connie laid her head on his chest before taking his hand in hers. "You're so big now."
"You've said that, almost every time we've met"
"Can't I admire your growth."
"Sure, as long as I can admire your own."
Connie smirked impishly as she covered herself playfully. "These curves are for my partner and me only.."
"Isn't that me though."
Connie looked to the sea. "I thought so..I hoped so..then you went ghost...AgaIn." She looked towards him with a sadden glint in her eye. "Two months, No contact.. What happened?"
Steven sighed, shame coming from the breath. "I did what I said I was going to. I came to a beach tourist town..I returned here, was here for a bit, maybe a night ..Before heading to Homeworld."
Connie listened intently as he told her of the last two months. How he paid a visit to Homeworld, where he experienced a galactic jamboree. From the consensus it was surprisingly a lot of fun compared to the last ones; now that era 3 was in full effect. He also found out that the diamonds were thinking about sending gems to other planets as diplomatic representatives in hope to find other ways to expand their race and ranks without harming another.
He told the Diamonds, Spinel, and Volleyball the truth about his mother's feelings for them. How she regretted everything she did to them and loved them all until her last second, despite everything that transpired. Told them everything she did to herself in their name as well. It was a bittersweet conversation but it did put some things in perspective.
He was on Homeworld a month before heading back to the beach city, to the temple, to his family. He was surprised to see all six gems and his father waiting, expecting him to come out of the warp stream. They all stood silently for what seemed like an eternity.
"I cried. I took a deep breath...I was going to say hi...Joke...Something...but I cried...We all cried."
Connie let use a chortle, wiping a tear herself. " Of course, you guys did. Not seeing each other for so long, seeing how everyone changed, must've been shocking. Wish I was there to see the reunion."
"If they hadn't ambushed me like that, you would've, I digress though.."
Steven continued his tale, speaking of his journeys across the earth, The same tales he told Connie. He was surprised at the changes of the gems.
Pearl was giving relationships a chance with Sabina. Amethyst really took over as Little homeschool headmaster and even got Jasper in her staff, as a teacher in motivation.That made Steven pause for a moment, but he accepted it. Garnet was the vice headmaster of little Homeworld. Peridot, along with Bismuth, Pearl and Connie made little homeworld R&D, with Bismuth and Pearl acting as directors, as Peri still had her gardening classes to attend to and Connie had college. Lapis took her art online and got exposure for some of their meep-morps. Lapis was on her way to becoming famous and Greg is managing her. Bismuth took her forging online and now has a following of 10 mill on tubetube. As for Greg,he was still his dear old dad...Just a little grayer.
After catching up, Steven sat them down in the living room before telling them about Rose quartz, and unlike with the diamonds and Spinel, he told them everything. Her travels, her self-hatred, Sheva, the self-poofing...Everything.
"We've put a smaller version of her picture back on the living room desk. It's progress."
"I take it, they were reeling from the revelation."
Steven nodded. "Garnet split to hold each other, Lapis and Peri consoled Bismuth, Dad and Pearl had each other."
"And Amethyst?"
"Amethyst...Actually took it well, better than anyone else."
Connie features softened at the prideful look on his face.
"She took me to the side and asked me how I'm handling it. I told her that I was fine..Which I was and am..I came to terms with what she was and dealt with…How she dealt with them.."
His eyes glistened a bit as he held his head down thinking about Rose and how similar he was to her.
"We had a nice one-on-one...Talked about how I was going down a similar path as mom. Starting to hate myself for not being needed, or able to help people...You know, things I told you."
Connie nodded as she recalled one of their first dreams together. She remembered holding him as tearfully told her how he started to feel unfulfilled and useless again. After everything he went through to get better even seeing a therapist. He still felt the need to get away from everyone and everything related to the Crystal gems. He felt like he still needed to find himself..These were the reasons he left.
“After that..Amethyst asked when did I talk to you about this."
Connie eyes widened at the statement, trying to hide her shock through a smirk. " What?"
"She just figured it out. Said that I had a certain calmness and maturity, about everything. Said the only time I am like that is when I talk to you and mulled it over."
He took her hands in his and gave them a kiss. Connie squeezed them back.
"What did you tell her?"
"The truth...No need to keep it hidden…"
" Oh..And what truth is that?"
Connie smirked as he felt his lips upon hers, his thumbs massaging the back of her hands. His smell invigorating her senses… He broke the kiss but didn't pull away, nuzzling behind her ear giving her small nips.
" Said I've been visiting my girl twice a month, for the last year."
"Hmm.. Except for the last two."
As Steven pulled away ready to apologize to Connie, when she placed her index on his lips, shaking her head as she did.
"Don't...You did nothing wrong. If anything, I should apologize...I wanted you to feel a bit bad for not contacting me, that's not how you treat your partner."
"Your partner, huh?"
"I mean.."
Her bashful side glance made him snort, which in turn made her cheeks flamed. "If you'd have me."
With amusement, Steven caressed her left cheek before drawing close. Nose tips touched as he looked into her deep black eyes.
"Obviously. I am still under the assumption that today is our anniversary, as well as your birthday. Am I…"
"No!" Connie let a little stifled laugh at Steven's surprised face. Her heart was pounding against her chest, she found it hard to look at his eyes..she felt anxious, excited, and scared. "No. You're not wrong…I..I also thought of us as a couple since then...Though we never defined it, exactly."
"Dream-buds"
She smiled as she nuzzled into the stroking palm, kissing it. The moonlit ocean giving her eyes an fantastical glow. "We're not in a dream now, Dreamscuit."
His face turned pink and not from his gem. "And yet you're still calling me that.”
“Of course...You’re my Biscuit and a big piece of my dream for the future. Besides, you called me Dream Berry. Why is that?”
Steven licked his lips before letting his his hands rest on her hips and pulling her close...Trying to ignore how thin her nightwear was. She tilted her head slightly to the right as she saw a passionate light in his cool, almond eyes.
“You know why..It’s the same reason as you to me.”
Connnie gave a teasing grin, before tracing his cheek and jaw. She kissed him lovingly, passionately, heartfully. Her loneliness and heartache over the two months, her regret and penance over doubting him for even a moment. Her swelling pride and carnal hunger for him, Her thankfulness and graciousness over his safe return. Her happiness and undaunting love for him. It was all displayed, all revealed to him in that kiss.
Her kiss tenderness left him awe-struck, the depth; weak, the emotion; speechless.The touch left him trembling. His heart swelled and burst as he held her close by her back returning the kiss...The emotions He felt rejuvenated, reborned, truly reformed .He felt as he truly returned home.
They broke the kiss, laughing with tears in their eyes. Words lost them as they wiped each other's eyes and gave each other chatse kisses.. It was a few moments before they relaxed, opting to hold each close.
“I love you.”
Both their eyes widened at the dual confession,neither expecting it from the other first. Connie broke out of the stupor first, tackling him down to lay upon him. Her head on his chest ear to heart.
“You are home with us, with me. After so long. It’s real…In the present.”
Steven held her close, left hand stroking her head, right arm around her waist. “Yeah..I’m finally home..Finally where I want to be.”
As he gaze down at her receiving a small yet illuminating grin. He couldn’t help but think that both their present and future never looked so brighter.
