Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe

Title: The First Five Days

Summary: (AU). Lapis regenerates in Steven's bathroom; the official main redemption hub. The waters been cut, so she has no weapons. Jasper is... classified. And her only company is her guard, an injured human girl with a sword by her side.

Warnings: Injured Connie? Nothing graphic; vague mentions of blood.

...

Lapis regenerates in a room that was once full of water. There's a certain clinging dampness to it, like it hadn't been dried before her arrival, but when she reaches for any useful amounts of liquid, it's all out of her reach.

She sluggishly gets to her feet. Her plan is to run out the door and race to the beach- if she's fast enough, she might make it outside- but the doorway is blocked.

"Hello, miss Lazuli." The human girl, who had been patiently examining the blade of a sword, slips the weapon back into its scabbard and stands up to greet her, blocking her path through the doorway. Lapis doesn't doubt this was on purpose.

"Where's Steven?" She demanded. Her throat feels like she swallowed sand.

"Persuading the gems to let him visit you. With all due respect, miss Lazuli, Steven could be face to face with the worst creature imaginable- man, beast, gem, or otherwise- and still invite them in for dinner, so they aren't sure if it's safe."

"I'd never hurt Steven!" She snapped, enraged. The human girl calmly nodded her head.

"I know that. The gems do too, deep down. Give them some time."

She didn't say anything more than that, resolutely staring at the wall as though awaiting more questions. Lapis didn't disappoint. "Jasper?"

"Classified." She said curtly.

"Classified?"

"Yes, ma'am. It's practically the only thing I can't tell you."

She felt even more angry, but reminded herself that this was just a human, and they were known to follow orders unless told otherwise. She'd have to talk to Steven to get any real answers. "Where are the gems?"

"Fixing the town and patroling, but don't get any ideas. A gem is stationed at the house at all times."

Lapis blinked at her. "Then what's the point of having you here?" She asked bluntly.

"I'm here to guard you, miss Lazuli. More gempower for everything else, that way." She shrugged.

"But you're just a human." She pointed out. She expected outrage, but the girl didn't seem very surprised by her reaction.

"Yes, ma'am. But I could do some damage in the time it'd take to bring me down. Also, I'd alert the gems by making a commotion, and they could take you down. Make no mistake, miss Lazuli. They don't want to hurt anybody, but if you kill me, they will crush you."

Lapis ignored the threat. She's already in dangerous territory here; it wasn't very surprising that they were jumping at the bit to off her completely. "My name is Lapis Lazuli. Not 'miss.'"

"Of course." She nodded her head. "Miss is a term of respect on earth. Then again, now that I think about it, things are probably different on Homeworld in that respect..."

"Well, I don't like it."

"Okay. I'll call you Lapis, then."

The blue gem eyed the girl, taking in her battered appearance, ripped clothes, and frazzled hair. Her right shoulder was covered in a white wrapping that was stained with red, and her left ankle was the same. Lapis could only imagine what other injuries she was hiding under her clothing, but the human carried herself with a sort of grim pride, like they were merely things that could be shaken off and ignored.

That reminds her. "Were any humans hurt?"

The human girl stared at her. "Excuse me?"

"I may not like this planet, but I have no quarrel with the humans. I'm not Jasper."

No, but you were Malachite. She can sense the girl thinking, but she wisely doesn't voice it. "No humans were injured. We evacuated the town. Gave them a good scare, though. It was like something out of a film."

Lapis doesn't know what that is, and makes a mental note to ask later. "Was Steven injured?"

"Of course not." She said briskly, a hint of a scoff in her voice. "You're alive, aren't you?"

Lapis narrowed her eyes, but didn't say anything more.

They spend the rest of the night in silence.

Author's Note: If you've read 'Ashes And Blood', you might recognize Connie with an injured right shoulder. I don't know what it is with me and her shoulder, but something's always there when I write her; injury, prosthetic, tattoo (no written stories, but I love the idea of rose tattoos on her shoulders and back)

Lapis is done with this and she's only just got back. Connie is tired, hungry, and injured. It's a fun mix. =)

No flames! Don't like don't read! Review!