Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe!

Title: Restless

Summary: Captain Lars faces his hardest challenge yet; getting re-accustomed to Earth.

...

Lars doesn't know how long it's been since he slept last. He hasn't really paid any attention to it. There's been too much on his to-do list to think about sleep; building the Star Skipper (rest in pieces), dodging Emerald, telling stories, pacing, you know how it gets when you fly in a stolen ship cross-galaxy. It was telling on him now, in the bags sagging under his eyelids, but now it's less adrenaline keeping him going and more excitement. Not the good kind. The sour kind that made him feel like he was having a heart attack.

He took in a deep breath, then let it out. Right, right. Straight face. Stiff upper lip. All that junk. Rhodonite had eyes like a hawk. No need to make her get all worried about landing.

"Take your time, guys," he says finally, in relation to the Rutiles. "Sand isn't a very solid substance. It's gonna be wobbly."

The right one gives him a thumbs up. "Touchdown in ten minutes, Captain."

"Awesome."

Padparadscha sat up straight. "We're nearing the Earth!"

"Thanks, Paddie."

Lars shifted in his chair, feeling his cape tug at the front of his throat. It's a sensation he's gotten used to. He tightens and loosens his fingers, wondering what he wants to do first. Swim? Jump on the trampoline? Hug everybody? There's so many things, but he knows, realistically, that it'll probably include a lot of crying. He imagines they'll all blubber- both he and the rest of the Off Colors. (Is it selfish to hope someone does? To have feasible proof that he matters on Earth, that people noticed him missing from the boardwalk? Probably. Lars has always been pretty good at being selfish.)

Fluorite is not a quiet Gem, and they all hear her slow, methodical steps as she goes to poke her head out from the engine room. Lars has already turned his head in her direction. She's smiling, all eyes wide and alert. "All... set," she reports, then sighs. "I hope... the landing... will be smooth."

Rhodonite let out an agonized groan, chin on her hands. The fusion stared unblinkingly at her settings and controls. "Don't remind me."

"It'll be fine," Lars reassures them both- reassures himself, too. "We've got the best pilots in the galaxy."

They all go silent. Fluorite comes around and wraps around his chair, watching and waiting. Lars drums his fingers on the armrest; then, catching the look he got, stopped. Right. Gotta let them focus. He hopes they don't crash into the ocean.

The Sun Incinerator is a luxury space craft. At least, that's what Lars has been told. All Homeworld ships come across as plain to him. They know how to make 'em fancy on Earth. Stickers and paint. Classy. Regardless, the vehicle lowers smoothly, with hardly even a sound. The landing gear is deployed, and they coast to the ground with a thud, shifting a bit before settling, the ship at just the right angle to make him feel like he was leaning back.

Lars swallowed, the enormity of what just happened sinking in.

They were home.

No one dared move. The silence had grown brittle. The Rutiles clasped their hands together, trembling. A thin hand comfortingly rubbed a bigger hand as Rhodonite scanned the sands for enemies, finding them decently barren. A few crabs, but nothing that looked big and scary. Fluorite's top and middle sets of eyes darted to Lars, and he knew he was going to have to make the first step here. He always had to make the first step. It's why they made him Captain.

Padparadscha smiled. "We've landed."

They all breathed out in relief, the moment gone. Lars gave a shaky little laugh. "Okay, yeah, alright. This is sure a thing, huh? Welcome to Earth, guys. It doesn't get much better than this."

"Captain Lars?"

"Yeah, Ru?"

The Rutile hesitated, lips quirking. "Can we really just go out there? Whenever we want?" she asked. "Is that... really allowed?"

He nodded. The twins looked at each other and smiled.

"I can't believe we actually did it," Rhodonite whispered, face cradled between her four hands. "We're actually here."

"I'm... proud...of us." Fluorite announced.

"Me too," Lars hastened to add. He shifted onto his one elbow, more exhausted than he ever remembered being. But they did it. They got to Earth. "Good going, everybody. We did good. Real good."

A gentle tapping on the landing gear has all of them tense and ready for battle. Lars stands up, sleepiness forgotten. "Rhodonite, put it on the main screen."

She nods, flicking her picture up so they all can see it. Three shapes are huddled outside the Sun Incinerator.

Lars let out a bedraggled breath. "Oh, thank goodness. It's just Steven's moms."

"Those are Gems," Rhodonite squeaks.

"I know. But they aren't any threat to us." Lars bit his lip. "At least, I don't think so. I did once spill coffee on Garnet."

"Should we hide?"

"No? I don't see why, anyway."

"Gems are coming to visit us!"

"Thank you, Padparadscha." He straightened his shirt out with a grimace. "Twins, lower the dock. I'll handle this."

They did with a small frown. The smell of salty sea air washed over them, hitting Lars with such a heavy dose of nostalgia he wanted to tear up. The sound of the sea, the screech of seagulls, the warm gritty sand... He shook himself. Lars didn't have the time to cry. Not in front of Steven's weird mothers, and certainly not in front of his crew. His mom and dad were still open for debate.

Lars did an awkward half-jog down the open dock, praying he didn't slip and make an idiot of himself. He didn't know them all too well- Amethyst came in for donuts, and Garnet would come by here and there, but that was about it. He didn't think they really had a lot of friends. Still. If he messed up now, he would remember it, and it would haunt him for ages.

"Your name is Lars, right?" Pearl says, putting a hand to her chin. The only reason Lars knows her name is because she fights off monsters. He isn't even sure they've met before. Probably not. "Steven's been talking about you."

"Oh?" he prompted. "Only good things, I hope."

"Dude," Amethyst pipes up, torn between laughter and scorn. Now, Amethyst? He knows her. Like a thorn in the foot, even. "What are you wearing?"

Lars' face turned a brighter shade a pink. "Well, you try sneaking into Homeworld without a cape sometime. It's harder than you'd think."

"He ain't wrong." Garnet adjusted her shades. "Welcome back."

He didn't know what to make of that. He opened his mouth to ask her if she was serious- it was completely in his right to know if he was being made fun of by aliens, dangit- but his question was hindered by what can best be described as a screech.

"LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

Lars winced. Steven. Right. His ears were bleeding, he was sure of it. Just behind him he could hear Fluorite saying the boy's name, just as long and drawn out as Steven was saying his. The fusion had proven to be rather affectionate towards him.

Steven is a gentle kid, usually, but he's not gentle in how he tackles Lars in a hug, sending his butt to the harsh floor of the dock. He just kinda goes with it, knowing it's basically useless to avoid him. He's faster than he looks. And hugs are nice. Lars has missed hugs.

Pearl's pointy nose wrinkles. "Steven, please, the sand."

"Aw, let 'em hug, P."

"They can hug on the porch. It'd probably be more comfortable for both of them if they did."

"I'm so glad you're here," Steven whispers into his shirt. A shirt that probably smells terrible, now that Lars thought about it. Could be worse, though. Could be the one he died in.

Lars wraps his arms around Steven and gives him a good squeeze. "Me too, buddy. Me too."

Author's Note: Heyo! This is gonna be on a drabble-type basis, methinks. Gives it a nice, loose feel. None of this will ever be canon, but that's never stopped me before!

Next time, on Restlessness: Lars does paperwork.

-Mandaree1