Home World (Steven Universe AU)

Summary:

In which Blue learns to take a breather and not just from homeworld.

When Connie received the invitation to Garnet's wedding, she was, of course, confused and wondered how it was even possible. After Steven explained everything, she was ecstatic and eager to help in any way she could. However, as Connie watched in astonishment, she noticed how effortlessly Blue moved from task to task, helping wherever needed—not just giving orders. Blue seemed to have almost everything under control.

That wasn't to say Connie was useless; Blue had asked her to help Steven set up the candles. "Wow, she's so efficient," Connie commented, marveling at how close the decorations were to being finished. The food orders for the wedding were already placed, and now they were focusing on picking out outfits for the brides. While Blue knew next to nothing about fashion, she ensured Ruby and Sapphire were satisfied with the arrangements. The question remained: Would Ruby and Sapphire choose outfits and summon clothing inspired by them, or would they be like Peridot and actually wear clothes that weren't molded onto their forms? No one knew for sure.

Steven chuckled as he hung more candles, which were encased in bubble-like bowls. Connie kept the ladder steady for him. Honestly, even he was surprised at how quickly and efficiently everything was coming together. Of course, Blue had practically dragged him along to help with Earth customs she didn't understand. After that, she sent him off to tackle specific tasks—she wasn't perfect, after all. She hadn't been raised on Earth and didn't know what was culturally appropriate, but overall, everything was progressing smoothly.

Blue leaped to the top of a pole, scanning the area with a calculated gaze. Steven's heart skipped a beat at the sight, but she seemed perfectly stable, so he didn't say anything. Still, he kept an eye on her as he continued working. How was Blue so in her element? He thought, perhaps it was because she had commanded armies before—she was, after all, an intergalactic dictator. Did Homeworld even have parties?

At this rate, the whole venue might be completed a day or two ahead of the wedding. "Maybe we should take a break," Steven mused, hopping down from the ladder. There really wasn't any rush.

"Connie, what is a bridesmaid?" Blue asked, floating gracefully down from the pole. She used the height to get a bird's-eye view and ensure everything was in order. From what Sapphire had told her, both she and Connie were something called "bridesmaids," but Blue had no idea what that entailed.

Steven's jaw dropped as realization hit him. In the rush of preparing everything else, they hadn't taken Blue shopping for the bridesmaid dress Sapphire had predicted she would need.

"A bridesmaid is someone who accompanies the bride," Connie explained as Blue landed lightly in front of them.

Connie frowned as the realization struck her. If Blue didn't know what a bridesmaid was, then she definitely didn't have a proper dress for the occasion. "Wait, you don't have an outfit for this, do you?"

Blue looked down at herself, visibly confused. She was still wearing her usual attire. Was it not appropriate? She understood that people dressed a certain way for these occasions, but wasn't that just for the brides? "Do I need one?" she asked uncertainly.

Appalled, Connie stepped closer, grabbing the younger girl by the shoulders. "Yes, it's very important," she insisted, her tone firm. Then, a grin spread across her face as she hooked her arm around Blue's. "Come on, I think I might have a dress that'll fit you." She wasn't entirely sure if it would be too big on Blue, but they could always make adjustments if needed.

Steven beamed, his eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought of Blue in a new outfit. "Ooh, I wanna come!" he chimed in enthusiastically. Since there wasn't an urgent need to continue with the decorations, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to take the break he had just suggested.

Blue looked mildly confused but didn't resist as Connie guided her away. Steven eagerly followed the two girls, ready to join in on the unexpected adventure.

=======

This wasn't the first wedding Connie had attended, but it was the first time she was a bridesmaid rather than a flower girl. Still, Connie had forgotten that the last wedding she attended was when she was twelve. The dresses she still had from that time—stored so deeply in her closet she must have forgotten to give them away—didn't fit Blue at all.

Blue and Steven sat on Connie's bed as she rummaged through her closet, determined to find an extra dress. "There's no rush, Blue. The wedding isn't happening today," Steven gently reminded his girlfriend, glancing over the list in his hands. The list had a few notes written next to it—not in English but in gem language. Unlike Centi's chaotic scribbles from years ago, Blue's penmanship was elegant and structured, looking more like ancient script than haphazard squiggly lines. Still, Steven couldn't read it.

Connie grimaced, acknowledging that Steven was technically right. The wedding wasn't today, but unlike Homeworld, where her armies worked tirelessly while she rested, Earth was different. Gems didn't need sleep, but being half-organic, she did. "We still need to find sweets and search for music, according to your list," she countered, pointing to it.

Steven nodded, conceding that she had a point, but replied, "Pearl's making the cake, remember? And Dad has plenty of records we can go through tomorrow." He gently slipped the clipboard from her hands. After Amethyst had eaten half the cupcakes meant for the rehearsal, Pearl had decided a single large cake was better—and Amethyst was subsequently banned from the kitchen until further notice.

"Very well," Blue said, yielding with an amused smile. She humored him too much, and Steven beamed before leaning over to kiss her cheek.

At that moment, Connie finally emerged from her closet. "Got it!" she chirped, holding up a pink dress.

Blue tilted her head as Steven stood up to inspect it. "Ooh, sparkly," he remarked, moving closer. The dress was entirely pink, with a sparkly overlay on the skirt.

Connie grinned toward Blue, who stared at the dress impassively. Slowly, Blue's hand moved toward the clipboard to double-check if the dress matched the theme, but Steven scooped it out of her reach with a cheerful, "Nope!"

"Would it be appropriate, given the theme?" Blue asked in a neutral tone, her brows knitting slightly.

Steven hesitated, wondering if Blue was trying too hard to earn the gems' approval, even though they had finally accepted her. Then he remembered the updates she'd given him from Homeworld about healing Onyx and how exhausted she'd looked during their calls on the diamond line. Maybe she wasn't just trying to gain favor—maybe she was genuinely driven to get things done because that's simply who she was.

"Yeah, pink for fire. Oh!" Connie exclaimed, noticing a tag still attached to the dress. She realized she had never actually worn it. "I'll be back," she said, leaving her bedroom in search of scissors.

Steven sat next to Blue, his expression soft. "You came to Earth for a break, remember?"

He hadn't expected her to take over as she had. First, she'd solved one of the biggest mysteries in gem history, and now she was spearheading Garnet's wedding preparations. While he admired her determination and was more than happy to help her navigate things she didn't understand, he couldn't ignore how she was starting to look like she had back on Homeworld—overburdened and exhausted.

"You need to breathe," he said, his tone gentle.

Blue raised a brow, her expression puzzled. "I am breathing."

Steven opened his mouth to correct himself but ended up laughing at her naivety. "No, no, I mean…" He took her small hands in his larger ones, his body shaking a little with amusement. "You need a break. From all this planning. From the wedding. You came here to temporarily get away from all your duties or whatever back on Homeworld. And now you're diving headfirst into all this."

His thumb began caressing her knuckles, his hand warm and reassuring. Blue stared into his eyes, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the universe melted away, leaving only the two of them.

"Let's just… get you a bridesmaid's dress, and then we'll take a real break from all this planning. Okay?" he said softly.

There he went again, making that face—the one that made her life organ, her heart, thump wildly in her chest. Her belly felt light and fluttery, and she let out a defeated sigh, closing her eyes. "Very well," she yielded, unable to resist his charm. He was far too persuasive.

Connie returned then, holding a pair of scissors. "Okay, let's try on this dress!"

Blue stood dutifully, removing her poncho, finally revealing her gem to Connie. For a moment, Connie froze, unable to help but stare. She'd seen Steven's gem a hundred times before, but seeing Blue's gem now felt different—almost surreal. Even Steven couldn't help but stare a little, despite having seen her gem once in person and countless times over the Diamond Line.

Seeing it again, solid proof that he wasn't the only hybrid, filled him with a strange, giddy excitement. There were so many things he'd never had the chance to ask her. Back on Homeworld, she'd always looked so tired, and since she'd been back on Earth, she'd thrown herself into even more work.

But after they figured out the dress situation, he decided he'd take her home so they could finally sit, relax, and talk. There were so many things he wanted to know—questions only another hybrid could answer. In the back of his mind, ever since Peridot brought it up, he'd wondered whether being male or female dictated how a hybrid's physical traits manifested.

Did one gene dominate the other purely based on gender? It was a fascinating thought. Then again, gems didn't really have DNA, being "manifestations of light," as Pearl had once explained a few years ago.

Steven hurriedly left the room as Blue, without hesitation, began to strip. Right—gems viewed the human body as nothing more than anatomy. Nothing sexual about it. Did Blue even—nope, not the time or place for those kinds of thoughts. Plus, he sort of got his answer when he remembered that movie they watched together. She'd been completely unfazed by the… sex scene. If anything, her only comment had been that it was "natural," delivered with a teasing tone that had flustered him at the time.

He smacked his cheeks, trying to focus. Get your mind out of the gutter, he mentally scolded himself.

He heard Connie say something in the other room but decided he wasn't stepping back in unless he heard screaming or was explicitly invited. Instead, he pulled out his phone and started playing Candy Crunch.

Meanwhile, inside, the dress fitting was proving to be a challenge. The length was perfect, but the waist was slightly tight. The sleeveless high-neck top was the bigger issue—it squeezed uncomfortably against both Blue's chest and her gem. Blue practically tore it off in frustration, the gem constriction triggering some kind of instinctive frenzy.

Her hair bristled in alarm, and for a moment, Connie wondered if gems needed to "breathe" in some way she didn't understand. The sight reminded her of Greg's story about how baby Steven hated onesies because they pressed against his gem. That memory resurfaced again when she thought of the time Steven had shapeshifted into an older version of himself and then reverted to a baby—it was always the gem area that seemed to matter most.

Deciding on a solution, Connie grabbed the scissors and carefully cut a window in the dress for Blue's gem. When Blue tried it on again, she didn't attempt to tear it off this time, and the dress fit much better. The older girl inspected the ribbon that had come with the outfit. Should she cut it and use it as a bow? Maybe a headband?

Looking around her room for inspiration, Connie got an idea. She tied the ribbon into Blue's hair, ending it with a neat bow at the tip. She grinned, satisfied. "We can do your hair properly right before the wedding," she suggested. A shawl might also be a good idea since it was winter, but Blue wouldn't be wearing the dress every day until then.

Connie stepped back, assessing the look. "We're done!" she called out toward the door.

It opened, and Steven walked in. He froze mid-step, his jaw dropping. "You look so beautiful," he breathed.

Blue was used to compliments. As a ruler of countless planets and gems, she had heard it all—"My radiant diamond," "My opulent diamond," "My lustrous diamond." Whether the words were genuine or out of obligation, they were simply part of her station.

But hearing it from her mate? It felt entirely different. Heat rose to her face, and she found herself smiling serenely. "Thank you," she replied softly.

Connie gave them a teasing look. Between all this wedding planning and spending so much time together, it seemed the two were more lovestruck than ever. She couldn't deny feeling the love in the air herself. Her thoughts briefly wandered to a certain girl from her school. Could she invite her? Maybe she'd ask later.

For now, she simply smiled, happy to see her best friends so clearly in love.

=======

Blue tilted her head, now back at the beach house in her usual attire. She stood beside Steven, her hand in his, as he held the clipboard firmly against his chest—still refusing to let her see it since they'd left Connie's house. "A bachelorette?" she repeated, her tone curious. She vaguely remembered seeing the word on the list but hadn't thought much of it.

The brides nodded, one more enthusiastically than the other.

"This will be an ideal opportunity to show Bismuth around Beach City as well," Sapphire noted calmly.

Blue's brows raised slightly. So Bismuth hadn't been introduced to the many aspects of Beach City the last time she was unbubbled? Interesting. Her mind wandered to her favorite thing in this strange yet fascinating place—Funland.

"Yes, that sounds lovely. Perhaps Funland would be a good place to start," she suggested, smiling softly. Her mate had taken her there several times when they were courting, and she adored everything about it—the lights, the games, the atmosphere.

Ruby and Sapphire exchanged glances, their expressions briefly apprehensive. Blue tilted her head again, puzzled by their hesitation. Before she could ask why, Amethyst suddenly popped up from behind her and Steven.

"Sorry, Charlie—adults only! But hey, at least you and Steve-o will have the house all to yourselves," Amethyst said with a playful grin.

Over Amethyst's head, Steven gave her a pointed stink eye, to which Amethyst smugly stuck out her tongue. Blue observed their interaction, her confusion growing, but she chose to ignore their antics in favor of processing Amethyst's words.

Adults only? she thought.

She recalled reading that, on Earth, and during the choosing process of the Zoomens, individuals had to reach a certain age to engage in certain activities. Was it the mating process? Were the adults going to mate during this "bachelorette" event? That didn't seem likely, especially since Ruby and Sapphire had been in a monogamous relationship for eons. This wedding was simply reaffirming that bond.

Wait… Blue's mind raced. When Steven and I are of age, will we have to mate with other adults as part of this process?

The thought made her pale. A burning anger bubbled up in the pit of her stomach.

Steven is mine. He is MY mate. I absolutely refuse to share him.

Blue's hands clenched, her jaw tightening. While some Zoomens chose to share their mates and others didn't, it had never concerned her before. It didn't involve her, and thus she had no reason to care.

But now? Now she had a mate of her own. And the mere thought of sharing Steven with anyone else sparked a primal protectiveness within her.

Not in a thousand years. Not in a trillion years. Not EVER.

Steven jolted as a sudden wave of negativity washed over him, almost suffocating. It felt like the air had grown thick, making it hard to breathe. When he looked back down at his girlfriend, her hair seemed to float unnaturally, and he froze at the sight of her eyes. They were a deep, dark blue—like the bottom of the ocean, where the unknown and most dangerous things dwell.

"What is a bachelorette?" Her voice was surprisingly calm, contrasting with the ominous look in her eyes.

"Drinking alcohol," he answered hesitantly.

As if a switch had flipped, the tension dissipated. Steven could breathe easily again. She perked up, still confused but far less hostile.

"Al-co-hol?" The word came out awkwardly, her accent making it sound foreign.

"Yeah. Only adults are allowed to drink it—mostly because it's the law. Kind of like a coming-of-age thing."

Confusion lingered in her expression, but understanding seemed to dawn. "Oh, I see."

At that moment, Bismuth emerged from the bathroom, having been convinced to put on proper clothes instead of her usual molten attire.

"LETS GOOOO!" Amethyst cheered, practically pushing Bismuth forward while Pearl trailed behind, fretting about not drinking too much.

"We'll be back around 2 a.m.," Sapphire informed as her fiancée dragged her eagerly out the door with the others.

The two were finally alone.

Steven glanced down at Blue again, unease creeping into his thoughts. What the hell was that tension before? He had never felt such hostility from her—not ever.

"What was that about?" he asked, intertwining their fingers, hoping the gesture would encourage her to talk.

Blue sighed heavily, clearly understanding what he meant. "I… may have made an error in judgment," she admitted, the weight of her misunderstanding evident.

She hesitated, then explained. "I assumed a bachelorette was something like the Choosening—a mating ritual for adults."

Steven's face turned crimson. How did she even come to that conclusion? Then it hit him—Amethyst had said, "adults only." Yeah, okay, he could kind of see where the mix-up happened, especially after his own bizarre experience at the human zoo.

Blue's grip on his hand tightened, just enough to make him wince. "I thought about us—about when we come of age. I… do not want to share you."

Her words carried a possessive weight, yet there was a vulnerability beneath them.

Steven smiled softly, choosing his words carefully. "You won't have to."

Brown eyes widened in realization. Oh, she's jealous. Call him conceited, but Steven felt a little weirdly flattered that Blue would get jealous over something that would never even happen. He smiled warmly.

"Aww, Blue. Don't worry. I only love—"

His words were abruptly silenced as he was yanked forward, completely caught off guard. What stunned him even more were the soft, warm lips pressing firmly against his own.

When Steven had imagined kissing Blue, he thought it would happen at the end of a romantic date, or maybe during Garnet's wedding, sneaking her away to build up to the perfect moment. Not now, and definitely not out of jealousy. But none of that mattered. He didn't care or even think about it.

The only thing on his mind was how much he suddenly loved watermelons.

His hands instinctively moved to her waist, pulling her closer as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. He closed his eyes, letting himself get lost in her presence. This was better than anything he could have imagined—the way her arms wrapped around his neck, holding him like he was her entire world.

Maybe it was her powers at work, or maybe it was something else entirely, but he could feel the raw passion radiating from her. When she hesitantly parted her lips, he guided her as best he could, trying to help her along.

Blue, for her part, had no idea what she was doing. She was merely imitating what she had seen back home at the human zoo and in those… movies Steven had shown her. But it felt right. And even though she didn't want it to end, she finally pulled back, leaving both of them slightly breathless.

"I… love you, Steven," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Through the haze of his teenage mind, Steven realized this was the first time Blue had ever said those words to him. Out loud.

"I love you too," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity.

He bent down to kiss her again, his heart racing as their lips met. Over his shoulder, Blue caught sight of her harp resting on the couch.

Ah, that's right, she remembered. Weddings have music—songs for the bride and for the ceremony.

Steven's lips captured hers again, drawing her back into the moment. Her thoughts grew hazy, and she hummed dreamily as an important realization drifted into her mind.

This is a break. We can go through music options another time.