Trying to Smile Again Continued (Steven UniverseUniverse Fic)

Part Four Chapter Six: Corrupted?

3rd person POV:

Spinel snapped back to reality, blinking multiple times in confusion. She whipped her head around, looking at all the comforting gems around her. Yet, they held scared, and worried faces. Spinel retracted a bit, bringing her knees to her chin, then wrapping her arms around her legs.

"W-Why are you all starin' at me... like that," she whimpered.

"Spinel... how do you feel," Steven asked her.

"F-Fine... why-Is something wrong with me?!"

"No, no..." Steven turned around, signaling to the gems for a group huddle. "Should we tell her?"

"I don't know, she might go berserk again," Pearl mentioned.

"Yeah! And I'm definitely not telling her," Amethyst stated.

"I think we should."

"Yeah, me too," Garnet and Steven agreed.

"Well... wait," Peridot said. "I'm more sides with Pearl and Amethyst... she'd go crazy!"

"She's not like that anymore," Steven sighed. "Lapis... what about you?" Lapis stared blankly at the ground for a moment, before lifting her head to speak.

"She should know... when I was... when I was Malachite, I'll I wanted to do was run! I was scared and I felt so helpless! You tried to help me Steven, but I shooed you away... If Spinel has any chance to get help... we should let her know."

All the gems stared flabbergasted. Lapis made a compelling argument, but would that change their minds? Garnet and Steven smiled, and Peridot couldn't help but force a small grin.

"Wow... you make a good point. Ok, let's do this!"

"Yeah," Steven shouted.

Pearl and Amethyst looked concerned, but ultimately calm at the same time. They broke their huddle, Steven walking up to the concerned gem in the corner. He hesitated, looking back at his friends, Garnet giving him a thumbs up. Steven nodded, continuing over to Spinel.

"Hey," he said, grabbing her attention as he sat beside her.

She scooted softly to make room for him, her head poking up slightly. "Steven... is there something wrong with me?! I need to know!"

Steven stared at her broken expression. He felt so bad for her, she didn't even know what was going on! He thought she might've remembered... but it appears she does not.

"Spinel," he said, taking in a deep breath. "Try to stay calm when I tell you this, but," she nodded concerned. "I think... you're corrupting," he whispered.

"What?"

"You may be... corrupting."

"What? I can't he-"

"I think you're corrupting!"

Steven covered his mouth, realizing he shouted at her. She flinched back further to the wall, tears starting to prick the corners of her eyes.

"I-Spinel-I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to yell."

He tried comforting her, by reaching out a hand to her, but she slapped it away. She looked mad... but more at herself... for retaliating to violence again. She buried her head in her knees, pulling her pigtails.

"Steven-I-I-I... I didn't mean to-"

"No... I deserve that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I shouldn't have yelled.

There was an uncomfortable silence as they sat there, not saying a word. The gems looked away from them, yet they could hear everything. Pearl was slightly crying, a shocker, coming from someone who used to hate this pink bundle of... sadness? Joy? Who really knows?

"Steven..." Spinel started, receiving a hum in response from the boy. "If I'm... corrupted.., then what are we-"

"No, no! You're not corrupted... you're corrupting. As in, starting to corrupt. I think I healed you... but I'm not so sure."

"What... What do you mean?! You healed me when I was cracking-why wouldn't it work now," she said hastily and worriedly, clutching her gem.

"Well... because last time I dealt with a corrupted gem, I need all four of us Diamonds to heal her. Although, you're not fully corrupted... so, hopefully, maybe, it'll work with just me," he sort of questioned.

Spinel grew worried and quiet. She thought this over in her head. If it didn't work with only Steven... they can't ask the Diamonds for help! She'd be corrupted! A mindless mess of a gem, wandering around helplessly! Trapped within her own subconscious! She'd be... all alone again. Spinel shook her head vigorously, multiple times, she pulled her pigtails, almost pulling out strands of hair with it.

"No... no, no, no, no, no! I can't-I can't! I can't deal with that... that... torture!"

Her tears were now streaming down her face, creating small puddles at her feet. Steven hesitantly wrapped an arm around her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

"It.., It'll be alright. We always figure it out in the end."

Spinel still held her head in her palms. She slowly, lifted her face to meet Steven's gaze. He jumped a little, seeing her dismantled expression.

"What if it doesn't," she whispered through choked sobs.

Steven opened his mouth to say something, but nothing good came to mind. If he really couldn't fix her, than she'd have to be bubbled. Bubbled for who knows how long?! His silent response caused Spinel to break into more tears. The other gems came to help comfort her, but it barely helped. Spinel sat there, surrounded by her friends, screaming mentally in pain. Or... was it her corruption?

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(Sorry for the slightly shorter chapter tonight. But luckily, tomorrow I'm doing absolutely nothing, and I have the house to myself! So, expect a couple, if not lots, of chapters tomorrow!)