Hard choices

Author note: This takes place a year after Steven Universe Future. Steven left Beach City to go on a road trip, and find himself. He is back, but who is with him? How will he make up for the communication inconsistencies and lack of time between him and Connie?

I really appreciate and love this show. Steven is my favorite character other than Garnet. He is always empathetic, kind and sweet. Here is my take on the events after Steven Universe Future.

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“Steven is coming home soon!” Pearl exclaims, holding an opened letter.

Garnet got up from the couch, grinning wildly. “Awesome. When is he due back?”

Amethyst was in the kitchen, making a sandwich that turned into a mountain.

“Holy crap! No way!” She said, bringing in her sandwich into the living room.

“Amethyst, language,” Pearl warned. “And no food in the living room.”

Garnet gently took the letter from Pearl’s dainty hand, reading it over.

“He went to New York. Chicago. Saint Louis. California—-in Napa valley. Hmm. What a nice little road trip.” She put down the letter on the living room table and smiled again. “Can’t wait until he’s back.” She scratched her head. “Something tells me he’s brought someone along the way.”

Pearl sighed. “Who do you think it is, Garnet?”

“Someone…” Garnet looked thoughtful. “Important.”

Amethyst eats her huge sandwich in one bite. “Um, who cares? As long as I’ll have my buddy back, that’s all I need to know.”

“We don’t know if he’ll stay. So, let’s prepare for anything,” Pearl says carefully, her eyes wavering.

“Should we tell Connie?” Amethyst asks, jumping on the couch to lounge lazily on it, her arms falling off the edge.

“No, I don’t think so. Let’s see Steven first,” Pearl answers. “Also, let’s not baby him.”

Amethyst laughs. “Hah. You baby him! Not me.”

“He is about eighteen now. Let’s be… supportive,” Garnet says and they all nod.

Pearl sighs again. “He is going to be here in a few days. By Friday.”

“Let’s prepare!” Garnet says with a grin and thumbs up, as they start organizing and cleaning up the house.

Amethyst made another sandwich to prepare herself, thinking of the “Together Breakfast,” Steven used to make in a bout of nostalgia.

Garnet and Pearl organized.

*********

“So… your family are gem people? Really… like real gems?”

Steven nods, driving at a steady pace, not too fast. They had a few hours on the road before they took a rest stop at a hotel for the night. “Yes. Well, my dad isn’t. He is a human. I know I told you the story of my mom and dad meeting… getting together… stuff like that?”

“Yeah, you did. I just… wanted to clarify. Do you see them as your aunts? Sisters? Moms?”

“A combo of those.”

“Okay.”

Steven looked over at his companion and smiled. “Matt, I know they’ll love you. Don’t worry.”

Matt smiled, “I know I love you.”

Steven blushed. “Matt, you’re so sweet.”

Matt moved his hand to gently hold Steven’s free hand. “You’re so beautiful.”

Steven bit his lip. “Thanks.”

“It’s true. All that curly black hair and those sweet brown eyes.” Matt sighed. “So dreamy!” He said in a happy sigh.

Steven laughs softly, “You are, too.”

“You like my Jew fro?” Matt teases. “I may not fit in as well in your hometown as I did in New York.”

“I loved being with you in New York. It was so fun,” Steven says, and then looking at Matt, he smiles affectionately. “And I really like your Jew-fro.”

“I still think back to how we met, you know? What if I didn’t ask for your number… that night after the play?” Matt says wistfully. “I’d be kicking myself all up and down Broadway.”

Steven laughs. “Yeah. I bet. I could see that!”

“Did you like the play?”

“Yes. It was good. You were good in it.”

Matt grins, a bit proudly. “Thanks, baby.”

“Aw, you know it, honey. I think that Jagged Little Pill had some interesting points. I particularly liked the music.”

“Did you like the actor who played Nick Healy? Wouldn’t you say that was the most interesting point?”

Steven laughs, but it almost sounds a bit forced. “Yeah. I liked him. I should’ve gotten his number.”

Matt chuckles. “Agreed.”

They look at each and smile, both laughing a little.

“Why does your dad live in a van, again?”

Steven frowns.

“Like, isn’t he rich?”

“Uh, yeah. He doesn’t like fancy things. He is really… down to earth, he will like you. I know it.”

Matt nods. “Well, we’ve been together for three months now. It’s about time I meet your family. I wish you could meet mine..”

Steven sighs. “I’m sorry about your family.”

“Blood doesn’t cover for shit. You know? It’s like… as soon as my dad found out I was gay… boom. I’m not his son. I’m not my mother’s son. No other siblings—-so I essentially made them childless by telling them that small part of who I am.”

Steven squeezes Matt’s hand. “It’s okay. You can be a part of my family.”

“Thanks, baby. You’re the best.”

“No, you are!” Steven says happily.

“So, this’ll be the first time you come out, right? With your family?” Matt asks gently.

“Yeah. Garnet might already have an inclination… because of her future vision. But… knowing who I am… feeling confident and comfortable that I’m bisexual… it’s freeing.”

Matt nods in affirmation. “I’m so proud of you, babe.”

They both sigh, not talking for awhile as Steven drives. Steven starts to think of his friends and family in Beach City and the last year out on the road.

Matt thinks only ahead. Of his possible academic and theater future, and of his future with Steven.

Matt puts a song on from his iPhone.

“Babe, this song makes me think of you,” Matt says.

Steven smiles, but it fades as he starts thinking of Connie.

How miserable he was that day.

How his heart felt torn up, beaten down and ripped apart.

He had set up a beautiful picnic on the beach—-the beach where he first saw her, and sort of fell in love with her as a kid—-and he played a ballad just for her.

Then, like a fool, he asked her to marry him.

And she said, “Not yet.”

That felt like a big no to him. And it hurt, badly.

Things derailed for him after that. He lost it.

He had, unconsciously, issued an emotional downpour on his loved ones and a downward spiral that felt like he lost a part of himself—-and even for awhile, forgot who he was—-even transforming into the monster he once had feared he could be, and all of his repressed doubt and trauma finally crashed down on him.

But, getting away from everyone and everything helped. For a small period of time.

Now, he missed it all. His family, his friends…the city.

And… he missed Connie.

Thet had kept in contact for those first couple of months on Steven’s road trip. Writing to one another, texting, calling.

Then… nothing.

Almost seven months of nothing.

Then, he met Matt.

Matt, Steven thinks with a small smile, with the cute little gap in between his teeth, his brown wispy curly hair… and those really cute and adorable blue/green eyes.

He really loved Matt(Matt was only older than Steven by a year), there was no doubt, yet… he realized in a bit of horror, he hadn’t said he loved him back.

This wasn’t the first time Matt said it—that was after their first month on the road together and officially dating, and to Steven, it felt like he had won the lottery being with such a talented, attractive and kind person(and Steven had said it back). Matt knew about everything, too. How he had that emotional breakdown, the issues he had with the Diamonds and his mother Rose…. The thing with Connie. Steven trusted Matt with his whole life, as did Matt.

Matt had expressed to him of his own strict, Jewish heritage, of their holidays and traditions, and taught Steven a bit of Yiddish and Hebrew. It made Steven feel closer to him… and they even discussed having kids one day. Especially Steven, as he thought adopting a baby or child in need would be the greatest gift of all.

As they hit their quota for driving miles and time, Steven had Matt find a hotel nearby, and they finally settled down for the day.

They still were waiting to consummate their love—-Matt was patient. Steven appreciated that.

They always had separate beds in the hotel room.

That night, Steven wanted to sleep next to his Boyfriend, to feel secure and safe.

They held each other close and kissed, sleeping peacefully through the night.

That morning, Steven felt so nervous he puked.

Matt was worried, but he held it together, driving for Steven.

Steven didn’t say why—-it was because he’d have to face something he tried to deny.

That the lingering feelings for someone were not going away, no matter how hard he tried to deny it.

Love was a bit of a bitch, he thought, and he felt like it would hurt him more than help him in the end. He just wished it wouldn’t hurt anyone else.

He listened to a song, with headphones, thinking of such a hard choice—-one he absolutely didn’t want to make.