《Learn How To Love》Steven's Nightmare

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This didn't look like what you were watching before.

The TV came back from static, but what appeared onscreen wasn't a soap opera. It was... Steven.

You looked back at real-life Steven, who was still laying on the bed next to you, then back at the TV.

What's going on?

The TV showed Steven walking by the sea on an endless beach, carrying a bindle over his shoulder. Then, out of the ocean came the Dondai- with wheels made of cookies- lurching back and forth but not stalling.

Steven stopped as the driver's window rolled down to reveal...

Me?!

Steven got in the passenger seat and you drove him down the beach. The radio played your song, but a little different. Like if someone tried to perform it from memory.

Is this... Steven's dream?

Everything onscreen was a little bit warped. The Dondai was bigger than it was in real life, and the ocean bluer. You, however, were spot on. There were accurate details that even you didn't know about. Somehow, Steven noticed a freckle on the side of your neck, and a small scar on your elbow. Tiny details that you had never taken notice of until now.

The two of you drove down the infinite beach- passing people from Beach City, along with some weird dream things, like; Dogcopter, flying fish, giant french fries, and mountains made of ice cream. Even the clouds were dream-ified; they all had happy faces that smiled down upon you and Steven.

It was cute how wholesome his dream was- as if you were watching a cartoon, or a corny indie romance movie. You smiled.

Suddenly, the Dondai shook as something bumped the side. Dream-you and Steven looked over to see...

Another dream-Steven?

Steven #2 drove alongside you in an identical Dondai. He looked... sad? He hit the side of the Dondai again, and sent you and Steven #1 spinning in the other direction.

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Suddenly, both cars stopped moving, and the point of view changed. From a distance, you saw a third dream-Steven.

His arms were stretched out way beyond their natural length, as he gripped onto both cars and kept them from driving. He struggled to pull both cars in towards him, but inch by inch, the two Dondais moved closer- despite the wheels on both going in the other direction.

In real life, Steven shifted in his sleep. You turned to look at him on his side, brows furrowed, and fists clenched.

Your music, playing from the TV, faded into a burning static sound and a high-pitched ringing. Dream-Steven, who was still holding onto the Dondais, flinched at the noise and lost his grip on the cars- sending them driving into the distance.

You sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Steven tried to run after one car, but hesitated and started to chase the other. He went back and forth, unable to choose which one to go after, until he began to sink into the sand underneath him.

He couldn't move his feet, and when he clawed at the sand trying to dig himself out, he only sank deeper and deeper- until he was up to his chest in the beach. He looked up- and Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl were sitting next to him. They were just... looking at him. Staring.

As the clouds in the sky grew gray and restless, Steven reached out to the gems above him, asking for someone- anyone- to help him up.

When you felt movement behind you, you turned around to see Steven moving in his sleep. His leg twitched as he shook his head, eyes closed tightly. Your forehead creased in worry, and you reached out to take Steven's hand. You gently rubbed his palm with your thumb to try and calm him down without waking him up.

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In Steven's dream, the gems did nothing. They merely sat and watched. Around them, the world went by- things you had passed before; the townspeople, random cartoon characters, the living clouds- they all went by as if nothing was wrong. Nothing and no one bothered to help Steven.

But, as you held his hand, the storm clouds subsided, and everything around him seemed to slow down. The ocean waves lapped at the shore, and although quiet, the soothing noise of the water took over and drowned out the static. Eventually, the waves grew closer to Steven, and began to pull at the sand around him. His face relaxed as he took a few deep breaths- allowing the waves to dig him out of the hole.

When he pulled himself out, he walked slowly onto the ocean. Not into, onto. Steven walked on water with purpose, but as if he had all the time in the world. From the horizon, Steven's pink lion charged towards him and stopped.

On top of Lion sat a girl about Steven's age- dark skinned, and with wavy shoulder-length brown hair. She looked down at Steven bitterly, and that was all it took for him to sink to the bottom of the ocean. He didn't resist. He allowed himself to fall slowly through the water until he felt sand underneath him.

Then everything went dark.

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