Steven Universe Of The Creek Chapter 35 Precision Pedigree

Hours after Steven and Craig made their way back home, they enjoyed dinner with Craig’s family. Nicole didn’t make any slight glares at Steven since she always enjoys family dinner. But after what she heard from his conversation with Craig, she really has something to ask about his Crystal Gem life.

“So, have you heard of the card game, Bring Out Your Beast?” Bernard asked.

“No, not really.” Steven answered.

“Would you be interested if I show you?”

“There’s a place called the Splintery Butt, where they play that game.” Craig added.

“I would be interested, even though I’m not gonna be a full time player.” Steven smiled.

“I stopped playing that game as I got older. It’s not like you’re gonna get addicted to it forever.” Bernard said, taking a bite of his food.

“Kenneth’s probably still playing that game if you ask him.” Craig said.

“Yeah…there’s so many secrets for so many witnesses.” Nicole commented while not looking at Steven. Steven looked at Craig’s mom, who paid more attention to her food on her plate. He’s aware he’s gonna have another talk about her tonight before bed, he just hopes she doesn’t find out about Ruby and Aquamarine harming her son.

“Steven.” Jessica spoked, getting his attention. “Are you gonna do everything that there is to do in the creek?”

“I don’t think it’s possible.” Steven responded. “If I don’t do everything, I would have to save the other activities for another day.”

“You’re gonna go back to hanging out with Kenneth the day after tomorrow?” Duane asked.

“No, he’s going back to college on that day. I don’t have plans and…would you mind if I help you with your errands or something?”

“I’ll think about it tomorrow.”

This gave Nicole an idea for the meeting tonight. “How about you us with our meeting?” She offered. “We can work that out before bed.”

Duane took his wife’s offer as the whole family continued eating. Nicole and Duane washed the dishes, while Steven waited patiently in the living room with Craig and Jessica with him. Bernard remains seated at the table, knowing he’s mostly part of Steven finding a friend by pure luck. But at the same time, he wasn’t a witness of the event that happened when his brother was alone.

“Alright, that’s the last one.” Nicole closed the dishwasher after putting the last dish in. “Craig, Jessica, it’s time for bed.”

Both Craig and Jessica got off the sofa while heading out of the living room. As Bernard got up, he walked by his brother and sister, entering the living room, sitting next to Steven. Craig and Jessica walked up the stairs but Jessica stopped, turning around catching Craig’s attention before heading into the bathroom.

“Jessica.” Craig spoked. “We’re not allowed to be downstairs during Steven’s meetings.”

“I know but, is he gonna mention about…”

“No, he won’t talk about me and him fusing, he may talk about other fusions, but not us.”

Jessica still felt like she was dreaming when it happened, but if her parents found out what Steven did with her brother, it would take a long time to get every detail. “You didn’t fuse with him for nothing.”

Craig sighed, refusing to disagree. “If it wasn’t for my dream.” He entered the bathroom to brush his teeth. Jessica looked back down the stairs, as the lights were turned off by Duane who just left the kitchen, ing the meeting with Steven, his son and his wife.

“Steven.” Nicole took a deep breath. “Can you tell me…that you still have enemies even after you left Beach City?”

Steven attempted to be honest but at the same time, he’s worried about the choice of words he’ll say. “Yes…”

“Who are they?” Duane wondered.

Steven closed his eyes while answering the question. “Ruby…and Aquamarine.”

Back upstairs, Jessica got out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth. While Craig headed inside his bedroom, Jessica didn’t. She headed back downstairs, slowly making sure her parents didn’t hear her. She stopped after walking down the main hallway, preventing stepping foot inside the kitchen as she leaned against the wall.

“And Amethyst said there are gems out there that hate me.” Steven said. “After Ruby and Aquamarine went into the sky, I haven’t seen them since.”

After expressing his experiences involving them, Nicole processed everything she heard while her husband attempted to pick up the pieces. “When you said something about them fusing together as…”

“Bluebird.”

“Yes, Bluebird…is that easy for a fusion to work. Like it’s possible for me to fuse into my wife?”

“I don’t think it’s that easy dad.” Bernard responded.

“It’s true.” Steven responded.

“Did you fuse with my son, somehow?” Nicole wondered.

“No, what made you think that?”

“Because what if you fused with my son, just to protect him if they ever harm him?”

“There’s other ways to protect people instead of fusing.”

Nicole won’t disregard Steven’s lifestyle of being a hero, but on the other hand, she’s aware that the two gems captured her son. “Do you think I should trust you on being a babysitter?”

“I took care of Craig yesterday.”

“I don’t believe you.” Nicole got up from her couch. “When I allow Craig to spend time at the creek everyday, it’s because the creek’s the safest place in Herkleton, next to his and Bernard’s schools.”

“And our home, don’t forget about that.” Duane added.

“Be really honest with me.” She looked straight at Steven. “Did you show your powers to the kids at the creek yesterday?”

“Yes, I did.” Steven answered.

“Did you, at least and I mean at least…cause harm towards someone?” Steven placed his hand on his mouth, ing what he almost caused to Eliza. “You did cause harm, did you?”

“Nicole-”

“Tell me the truth.”

With tension in his body, Steven had no other choice. “Yes, I did but-”

“Did you use your powers or-”

“I almost punched her!” Steven stood up from the sofa, causing Nicole to get shocked. He took a deep breath while attempting to stay on topic. “It’s because that girl almost looked like and acted like my mom…when she was Pink Diamond.”

Everyone but Steven, froze in silence while Nicole thought she was hearing lies, but when she heard the word mom, she knew it wasn’t a lie. Meanwhile, Jessica thinks she’s having a nightmare with how Steven acted in that situation. She wanted to leave, but she refused, knowing there could be more involving him than that.

“Her name was Eliza and…she wanted me to be her fashion model because of my gem and when she got into Craig’s face…” Steven sat back down while looking down. “...I turned pink.”

“You almost punched her?” Nicole responded.

“Craig stopped me…when I noticed he had pink eyes…all the while I accidentally launched him to a tree.” Steven then teared up from his eye, wished he never went through what transpired yesterday. “I promised you that Craig didn’t get a concussion, it was the first time I saw his pink eyes, I was just as shocked when I found out.”

“Steven, as much as I appreciate you being regretful of what you almost did, punching a kid isn’t excusable if the police found out about it.” Duane responded. “You never went through life like us when imagination was part of our childhood.”

“I did have imagination as a kid.”

“With powers, along with Crystal Gems who you spend time with, Ruby and Sapphire won’t even understand imagination.” Bernard commented.

“And Steven.” Nicole placed her hands on her hips. “I’m aware that not every single mom in the world is the sweetest mothers.”

“So you’re acting like my mom is like every other horrible mom?”

“No. Granted we need to know about your mom in another meeting, but you’ve turned out for the better.” Nicole turned around, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. She turned back to Steven, still witnessing his tear on his face. “And you showed me…you’re not as reckless as I thought.”

“You’re still upset that I almost…?”

“Yes, but I will forgive you at the very least.” She then walked past the sofa, stopping by the kitchen table while Jessica slowly backed away, lucky enough her mother didn’t spot her.

Steven got up from the sofa, walking up to Nicole from behind. “What do you think about Ruby and Aquamarine?”

Nicole closed her eyes, flinching while still looking away from Steven. “They’ve made me…concerned.”

“You’re afraid they’ll harm Craig?”

“Did you have to say that?” Duane walked by Steven, comforting his wife.

“I’d still protect him, no matter what.”

“You do realize it won’t eliminate that fact Craig could still be in danger.” Bernard walked up from behind.

“Steven.” Nicole spoked while turning around. “You want me to trust you to protect my youngest son?”

“Yes.” Steven responded.

“You said when you got back after meeting Kenneth, Connie is free to come over tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

She then picked out a photo of Craig’s cousin’s backyard from his house. “I just called Bryson’s parents to see if it’s okay if he can hang out with Craig in the creek.”

“He’s his cousin that you met at the family reunion two days ago.” Duane said.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this but…” She walked up to Steven to make sure he’s focused on her. “...Have Lion…teleport to their backyard…and bring Bryson here so you can protect him too.”

Steven nearly forgot that Craig had a cousin after days of spending time with him, his new friend he made today, where he would’ve been farther away from here by now. “His mom did say they live in Trenton, New Jersey so, you sure his parents would be…?”

“Some kids saw Lion, right?” Steven nodded from Nicole’s question. “I’m gonna ride him to let them know ahead of time once Connie gets here. I’m not gonna explain everything that just happened, just only about you.”

“...Okay.” Steven lowered his head.

“It wasn’t our idea for you to come over, it was Jessica’s idea.”

“Especially not Craig’s idea.” Bernard added.

“The thing is, I want you to prove that you can protect more than just one kid in this family in case…something terrible happens in the creek.”

“Okay.” Steven agreed. “Would you mind if Lion stays in the backyard when I’m in the creek?”

“Sure. Also…since Kenneth’s going back to college…I want you to spend the full day with me and Duane. And we don’t want Craig to come along, we just want him to stay at home.”

Steven may have missed Craig for nearly the full day today, but with this ultimatum being bigger than today’s, getting approval from Nicole and Duane would make things easier. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“We’re planning out what we’re gonna do. Maybe during car rides, we can talk more about your life to speed things up.”

“That’s really a good idea.” Steven replied. “I was thinking the same thing so we all can know each other a lot better.”

“Would you be interested in meeting Earl and Jojo again?”

“Yes.”

“Now that’s something we can look forward to.” Duane smiled. “Should we go to bed now?”

“Yeah, we’ve talked enough tonight.” Nicole said.

Jessica quietly headed back upstairs, entering her bedroom. Upon closing her door, she sat on the floor, still processing what she heard. She wants to come with Steven to see what he can do, however, she’s aware something horrible could happen. Especially since she doesn’t want Nicole to realize what she's seen today.

As Steven and Bernard headed upstairs, Nicole and Duane reminded downstairs. “So you heard them about going to Beach City?” Duane replied.

“Steven isn’t taking Craig there.” Nicole signed. “But I did hear them about Ruby and Aquamarine…capturing Craig.”

Duane wished his wife was lying, but he knows how honest she is when she’s serious. “You think Steven is responsible for it?”

“I can’t answer that. And I can’t answer the idea of him taking Craig to a place where the Crystal Gems live.” She took another deep breath, while also facing the fact that her youngest son wants to meet them in person. “I doubt Craig would ever go back to normal if he doesn’t go there.”

Duane refused to ask anymore questions as he headed out the kitchen, giving his wife her own space as she sat by the kitchen table. She just hopes that Steven will take care of Craig and his cousin the whole day tomorrow to trust him a little more.

Steven headed into Craig's bedroom as he witnessed Craig laying down in his bed, exhausted after waiting for him. “Do you want to know what I talked to your parents about?”

“No.” Craig responded. “I’m too tired, I just want to focus on what we’re gonna do in the creek tomorrow.”

“I don’t blame you, I also want to focus on the positives tomorrow…despite tomorrow night.” Steven closed the bedroom door while turning off the lights. He wasted little time as he got on the top bunk. He covered himself up, as he laid his head on his pillow. “Craig.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry for being too negative about the dream you had…I just didn’t think my powers were capable of giving you dreams.”

Craig felt thankful by Steven’s apology and the fact he has remorse from his choice of words. “Thanks Steven. And hey, even if Kenneth’s around, he’s probably more open to who you really are if he finds out about your gem.”

“We'll just see if that happens.”

“Also Steven…do you think you will be in my dream since we’re closer than in the middle of the day?”

Steven slowly closed his eyes, yawning while being honest. “We’ll just see in the morning…” Then, Craig’s eyes turn pink as he realizes he’s gonna be having another dream with more Crystal Gems.

“It’s gonna be a long night for me…” He fell asleep.

“Have fun Craig.”