We Protect Each Other 16

A/N: Hey guys! I have literally no idea what I'm going to make this! Well, I have maybe one idea…

Steven laid on his bed, grasping at the softness. The Crystal Gems had just gone on a mission, and Steven was told to stay home. And he was bored. He'd already called his super fun dad, but what else could he do?

He just rolled around on his bed, racking through his head for ideas. Everyone would probably be busy, but there was no use in not trying.

Steven stood up and walked down the wood stairs. They creaked with every step. It was like the house had grown old without his presence. Steven opened the wood door as well, and it too made a creaky screeching noise.

It was as if the house were ready to collapse. Steven walked with pep in his step over to Beach City. He was ready to take a small tour again, after being gone for so long. He walked by Fish Stew Pizza. It wasn't open.

Steven kept walking around the small beachside town. It felt…so different then what he remembered. Was he gone for that long? He was gone ever since Peridot got there, basically.

Steven felt like he was missing something. He couldn't pinpoint what. All he could think of was that he left his phone at home. But hadn't used it since yesterday, and it didn't seem to be weighing him down then, so it wouldn't now. But what could it possibly be now?

The boy shook it off, and kept walking around. Who knows, maybe he'd remember it then?

Connie ran to Steven's house. Yes, ran.

She was driving with her parents last night, something she had been doing often ever since Steven left. She missed Steven immensely. It wasn't just because she had to spend all her time with her parents now, but that was a large part of it, she just wanted to have her friend back.

Connie had become even more reserved since Steven left. That was really all she could do. Since she was staying home alone a lot, her parents still called her constantly. She also needed to have her manners at full capacity, because that's what happens when you're all alone with her parents.

She just kept missing Steven every day. She needed some excitement in her life, much less someone to talk to at least.

While she was driving around, she saw something floating in the air. She had to focus on it, but after a second, she could tell it was Steven. She started to breathe quickly.

'Steven. In the sky. Falling. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god!'

Connie wanted to scream as loud as she could, but she couldn't. If she did, her parents would hear, and then they too would see him. Even if they did become accepting of Steven and stuff, there was no way they would accept the fact that he was floating in the sky!

Like, what if he took their daughter up into the sky, but fell? Her parents would be filled with all sorts of worries that it would be certain that she couldn't even think about Steven anymore.

It took a lot of effort, but Connie kept it together.

When she arrived home however, that was a different story. Her parents went out for some reason, probably a romantic dinner, so she was alone.

She looked out her window, but could not see Steven. All she could do is think about Steven falling. Falling and dying. He may have called her earlier to say that they should meet the next day, but that doesn't mean that he'd be okay.

Connie faceplanted into her pillow. With all the thoughts in mind, and the fact that she couldn't see anything, she screamed, "Steven!"

Connie was almost at Steven's house.

'Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay,' She chanted like she was in a trance.

Connie was happy to see how close she was getting to the huge Temple. She ran up the wood stairs, probably as fast as ever, and she knocked on the door.

Steven still didn't feel right. Was he forgetting something? Someone? In Beach City maybe? Then he remembered.

"Connie!" He whisper shouted. Her house was too far to run to, though. So Steven resorted to Lion. He looked around Beach City, hopefully Lion would be there. And he was! Right in front of Fish Stew Pizza.

"Awww, you're just a big fluffy cat!" Steven hopped on Lion's back. "Now, to Connie's house!"

Lion roared and made a portal, and off the two were.

Lion skid across the ground in front of Connie's house. Steven could see the gray townhouse. Or apartment. He didn't really know. The lights were off, but maybe Connie was watching a movie or something.

"Stay here Lion." Steven ordered. Lion slowly laid down. Steven smiled.

He walked up to the door and knocked, "Connie? You there?" There was no answer. Steven kept trying, persistent as ever.

"Well Lion, I guess she isn't here. Where could she be though?" Steven mused. Steven thought of tons of places she could be. "Ugh, I still feel like I'm forgetting something!"

"Wait…" Steven started to remember exactly what he said during his phone call with his best friend. "Oh no…"

"Lion! We have to get back to the Temple!" Steven jumped on top of Lion's back. Lion started to warp through to the Temple.

Connie knocked on the wood door, "Steven?" There was no answer to her countless knocks. She felt it would be rude to look inside the window, but she had no choice. She looked in. The house was empty.

Connie sighed, 'I know Steven said for me to meet him. Where is he?'

She tried knocking a few more times, to no avail. Her knocks became weaker and weaker as her hope for seeing her only friend diminished.

Eventually, she sighed, and slid down the door. She just sat there, knees curled up to her chest. She was absolutely sure that Steven said that he was here yesterday. Did something change?

Connie started having worse thoughts go through her head. None of them were about something bad happening to Steven. Steven knew how to take care of himself. He had all of his powers, and the Crystal Gems, and herself she guessed.

What did Connie have? Why was she even here? Why was she special to Steven? What made her special?

Connie tried to stop the thoughts, but without having the sort of positivity Steven brought, it was like she didn't have any friends again, so the thoughts just kept coming and coming.

She tried to ignore them. But that didn't work. She tried to think of more happy thoughts. That didn't work. 'Ugh! Just stop-!'

Steven burst to the scene on Lion. He fell off Lion trying to hurry to the door in time.

"Connie!" He shouted. He ran in for a hug. Connie accepted it, but she was still surprised. She didn't noticed that tears were still threatening to fall. Luckily for her, Steven did.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Connie zoned back in, "Oh, um nothing. It's not important."

"That's ridiculous! Of course it's important."

"No. Not to you anyway. You've done such bigger and better things. Me? I've been sitting at home all day, because that's what I do." Connie sighed.

"That's ridiculous!"

"Is it really? You're a Gem! You've been saving humanity for forever! Your mom is really important, and you, you're history in the making! But me, nah. I'm not even your first friend. I'm not important."

Steven was silent. What was he supposed to say? What he had been saying can only go so far, and he couldn't counter anything. Everything Connie said was right, except for the fact that she wasn't important. And Steven could feel that merely denying her negative statement would just make things worse.

"Steven, why do you even want to talk to me? You have the Crystal Gems, and your dad, and…well I'm nothing compared to them. I'm not special." Connie started to cry. There, she said it. And then Steven would agree and she'd be friendless again. But, Steven didn't say anything. Connie waited for it, but Steven said nothing. 'C'mon Steven, just say it already! I'm nothing!'

Steven, he was confused. Why would Connie think those things? They weren't true! Steven just looked at his friend, sad as ever. She was standing there, waiting for an answer.

Steven moved in and hugged her, "You are special Connie." Steven paused, she saw how it raised her spirits a little. He really missed her. Missed them being together. This made Steven think of every moment with her, "You're the most special person I know. You could fight Pearl's holograms with ease! I couldn't do that. You're one of the best people I know. So please, stop doubting yourself. Because I don't."

Connie smiled.

A/N: I am so so sorry this took so long. I have been so busy! And also this chapter has gone through 3 versions. Yeah, 3. So it took forever for me to find a version I like. And yes, it is summer for me, but I've been doing a lot. So it's like school all over again, ugh!

I don't know how to feel about this chapter. It was supposed to come out great, but this? I don't know… I just hope you guys like it at least.

And I know it's shorter than usual, but again, I've been so busy. And when you're that busy, your motivation just falls to the wayside.

Anyway, I hope you like my fic so far!