#ler!garnet

Title: Too Cool for School

Connie wiped the sweat from her brow, sword raised high, her feet planted in the dirt of the Beach City training arena. Garnet stood across from her, arms folded, ever-imposing, yet calmly composed. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as they trained, with Pearl off somewhere rearranging a star chart and Steven watching from the Temple steps with a juice box in hand.

“You’re improving fast,” Garnet said, voice as smooth and unreadable as always.

“Thanks,” Connie grinned, doing a spin flourish with her blade. “I think I might even be able to beat you soon!”

Garnet raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

Connie nodded, puffing her chest just a little. “Well, you are the best, but I’ve been practicing every day. I’ve got reflexes now, strategy—I’ve basically mastered all this. You might want to watch out.”

Steven tried to stifle a laugh but it came out as a loud snort. Garnet gave him a knowing smirk before turning back to Connie.

“I see…” she said slowly, stepping forward. “You think you’ve got everything figured out?”

“Pretty much!” Connie chirped, twirling her sword again.

In an instant, Garnet was in front of her. Connie flinched, but Garnet didn’t strike. Instead, she gently plucked the sword from Connie’s hands with one finger and casually tossed it to the ground.

“H-hey!” Connie yelped. “That’s cheating!”

Garnet leaned in with a grin that spelled trouble. “You’re quick with a sword,” she said, removing her gloves, “but are you ready for… this?”

Connie didn’t even have time to ask before Garnet’s hands were on her sides, fingers dancing mercilessly. Connie squealed—literally squealed—as she collapsed into a fit of laughter, squirming under Garnet’s surprisingly precise and gentle tickle attack.

“GAH—NOHOHO! GARNET! THAHAHAT’S NOT FAIR!!”

“Is this how a master warrior reacts?” Garnet teased, her voice playful now, each word emphasized with a new wave of tickles to Connie’s ribs and stomach.

“STEVEN HELP ME! I’M BEING MURDERED!”

Steven raised his juice box in solemn salute. “You brought this on yourself, Connie.”

“Mercy!” Connie gasped between giggles, falling to the grass, breathless and red-faced. “Mercy! I yield!”

Garnet finally stopped, kneeling beside her. “Let that be your lesson,” she said, adjusting her shades. “Confidence is good. Overconfidence? Ticklish.”

Connie giggled again, still catching her breath. “You’re evil. Like, secretly evil.”

Garnet stood and offered her a hand. “Evil keeps you humble.”

Connie took it, still giggling. “Next time, I’m wearing armor. Full armor.”

Peridot & Steven & Garnet (Steven Universe)

a/n: i genuinely could not find a good gif for this fic so the one above is the one ur getting. ALSO THIS IS THE FIRST FIC IVE WRITTEN IN A WHILE and it’s literally been sitting in my notes app for months unfinished but i finally finished so!! and it’s peri bc she’s beautiful and she was my first character obsession whatever and i’m still obsessed so yes. anyways, enjoy!!

summary: from listening to old logs, peridot is reminded that she doesn’t know what tickling is. steven and garnet teach her.

word count: 1.4k words

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*Click* “Log Date 7148: The Steven has demonstrated a new.. ritual that humans seem to partake in. The name of this ritual is a ‘Tickle Fight’. I do not understand it. I searched for an answer in a large book filled with numerous words and their meanings, but it does not seem plausible. Perhaps, I should look more into it.” Peridot tilted her head. This was an older recording, taken a few months ago. She had never actually gotten the chance to continue her learning of what tickling actually was, helping Steven and the Crystal Gems save the world and all.

However, she had stumbled upon her old tape recorder and decided to listen to a few of her logs. The reminder of her curiosity revolving a “Tickle Fight” arose once more. Tickling, she recalled, was ‘to touch someone in certain sensitive spots to make them flinch and laugh’.

Still, she didn’t understand. How could lightly touching someone incite laughter? Was it an involuntary response? Should she ask Steven?

It wasn’t a bad idea; Steven had always helped her when she didn’t understand something on Earth. She threw her fist in her hand in resolve, searching for the boy.

Luckily, it didn’t take long. He and Garnet were doing something with a sphere, but Peridot couldn’t find herself caring enough to ask.

“Steven?” She asked, loudly, catching the attention of the two.

“Peridot!” Steven exclaimed, setting the ball down and running to the gem. Garnet followed soon after.

“What is ‘tickling’?” She asked, scratching her chin and eyeing Garnet somewhat shyly. Garnet and her had settled their (one-sided) tension, but sometimes, the gem still managed to intimidate her.

“Oh! Tickling! It’s where if someone touches-“

“No! Steven, wait. I know what it means but I don’t understand it. How does it make one laugh?” She inquired, as Steven’s mouth made an ‘o’ in understanding.

“Well, I don’t really know the science about it.. but it has something to do with your brain makes it happen..?”

“Ehh…” Peridot hummed, though she couldn’t say the answer given to her was very helpful.

“Why are you so curious about tickling, anyway?” Steven asked, looking at her then to Garnet.

“Oh, that’s because it was in one of my old logs. I always wanted to understand it but never could find the time.” Peridot said, handing them the tape recorder. They listened back to it, giving it back to her when the recording was finished.

“We’ll help you! It will be fun!! Right, Garnet?” Steven shouted, excited. Garnet only gave a thumbs-up.

And so, the next few minutes we’re spent finding answers about the strange thing. By the end of it Peridot could almost confidently say she understood tickling, or Gargelesis, the scientific term according to to the internet. Well, almost. There was one thing she didn’t quite understand. What did it feel like? She didn’t know. Could gems even.. feel ticklish? Sure, she had seen Steven been tickled before by the other gems but that was all it was.

Still, she didn’t want to ask. It was starting to get late and for some reason she couldn’t explain, the thought of being tickled felt.. embarrassing? That a mere touch can make someone feel so sensitive and laugh beyond their control.

The three of them sat down on the couch in Steven’s house, before Steven began to speak.

“Hey, Peridot.”

“Hm?”

“Have you ever been tickled?” It seemed like an obvious question, the fact being that she hadn’t, but she answered anyway.

Peridot sat up. “No, I.. I can’t say that I have.”

Steven beamed at that, reaching to grab her hands. “Do you want to be?!”

“I mean, Gems probably aren’t ticklish, right? So it would be pointless, wouldn’t it?” She said, though she wasn’t even sure if it is true and to be honest, she did want to know what it felt like.

“They are.” Garnet said, simply.

“O-oh.”

“So…????” Steven spoke slowly, in anticipation. He looked so excited to tickle his friend that she sighed.

“It would help me completely understand tickling. So I suppose it would be beneficial on both parties!” Peridot clapped her hands as Steven resisted squealing in delight, his lips quirked up. Peridot would be lying if she said she wasn’t at least a little nervous, but the best way to understand something was to experience it.

“Yesss!!! Garnet, help me tickle Peri!” Steven exclaimed, practically stars in his eyes. It felt nice to know that the gem wasn’t the only one looking forward to this.

“What should I do?” Peridot asked, unsure if it would only work if she did something in particular.

“Hm,” Steven put his finger on his chin. “Put your arms up— a little higher—yes like that!” He slowly brought his hands to the gems hips, grabbing the belly fat.

“If you are in any discomfort, tell us. We’ll stop.” Garnet added, as Steven squeezed. To say Peridot flinched was an understatement.

It was unlike anything she could have ever imagined and— yes, there’s the laughter the “dictionary” was referring to. Peridot immediately brought her hands down, pushing away at Steven’s hands, squirming wildly. Tickling felt sensitive, and she couldn’t help the toothy grin on her face.

“W-whahahahat?! T-thihihis iHIHIs tihihickling?!” She cried.

“Yes it is! Do you like it?” Steven asked, as Garnet hooked her arms under Peridot’s. Did she like it?

“Yehehehes! Ihihit’s weheheheird buhuhut I l-lihihike it!” She said, though she did struggle to get the words out. She wasn’t even completely sure that Steven and Garnet understood what she was saying.

She was overwhelmed. Not in a bad way, though. She couldn’t stop squirming and flailing and twisting and shaking. It felt as if each new spot that was explored caused her to become more sensitive.

“Can you hold her arms for me, Garnet?” Steven asked, as the gem nodded. She went from in front of Peridot to behind her, hooking her arms with hers. Peridot felt a new wave of anticipation wash over her with this newfound vulnerability.

“Ahahahaha..” Peridot stammered, giggling in anticipation. That anticipation didn’t last long because Steven had already stuck his hands into her armpits, scribbling on the sensitive skin.

She thought that was she had been feeling before was bad but this.. this was a whole new sensation!

“N-NaHAHAH?! W-WHAHAT?! W-WHY IHIHIS IHIHIT SOHOHO bahahaAD?!” She cried, struggling in Garnet’s grasps.

“That’s your tickle spot! Hehe, we found it.” Steven exclaimed, excited. Garnet smiled.

The tickling was beginning to feel overwhelming. Who knew a “tickle spot” could feel so intense? Peridot felt tears of mirth gathering in her eyes, her cheeks beginning to ache from the smiling and laughing.

“N-noHOHOHO MOHOHORE!” She shouted, getting their attention. Almost immediately, Garnet unhooked her arms and Steven removed his hands from her armpits. Garnet patted her back, comfortably, catching her before her knees gave out. The fusion moved Peridot to the floor. Peridot was exhausted. She tried catching her breath, shocked at how exhausted she had become.

“So how was it?” Steven asked, plopping down on the ground with her.

“It.. it was nice. It was overwhelming, but it wasn’t bad.” Peridot admitted.

“Haha, you’re so ticklish! That’s why!” Steven laughed. Garnet decided to sit on her knees and join them on the ground.

“Am I really that ticklish?” Peridot asked, as she scratched her chin.

“Yes, you are.” Garnet spoke, without hesitation, and Peridot blushed slightly.

“This makes us an expert in tickling now, doesn’t it?” Steven inquired, raising a brow.

That was true, wasn’t it? Peridot thought to herself. They spent about half an hour researching and then tickling Peridot so she had experience with it. But… something felt missing.

“Not yet. Peridot has never had a tickle fight.” Garnet voiced and.. that’s right! That’s what was missing! Steven’s eyes lit up as did Peridot’s while her body suddenly seemed much more energized.

“I’ll get you, Steven!” She shouted, eagerly, pouncing on him, kneading her hands into his sides.

“N-nahahahat if I gehehehet y-you fihihirst!” He giggled, as he tried to tickle the gem back. It seemed Garnet decided to sit this one out, but Peridot didn’t mind. She didn’t know what tickling was, but was happy to find out. Not the mention, the joy she felt spending time with Steven and Garnet, creating new memories with them that she would cherish forever. But for now, she had a tickle fight to win!

YEAHAHAHAH SHES LIKE i know what you are.