'Bonnie comes to meet her old friend, come rival on his home turf.'-
Setting: The last band of hardcore UG Metal Heads turf that separates the rest of the Orange District from the FM taken 'The HUB/OPP' south side.
Timeline: A few months after Steven's return in Rizzsurrected
Followed by --
Tags: #orange-district #crossfaction #steven #bonnie #art #gifs # #blood #warp #wrp #ug #square
TW: Blood and injury.
Setting: The last band of hardcore UG Metal Heads turf that separates the rest of the Orange District from the FM taken 'The HUB/OPP' south side.
Timeline: A few months after Steven's return in Rizzsurrected
Followed by --
Tags: #orange-district #crossfaction #steven #bonnie #art #gifs # #blood #warp #wrp #ug #square
TW: Blood and injury.
X110 - Summer - Supergrass - Orange District
Summer was reaching its peak in the Orange District. The days were longer and hotter, though not as humid as they had been on ‘the other island’ - it had only been a few months since Steven had returned from there and even less time since he’d been placed back into the role of UG’s Leader once more after several years of absence and ‘being legally dead.’
The influx of meetings and years of backed-up requests and paperwork he was still sorting through would drive anyone crazy - especially someone who hadn’t used a tablet or PC in almost 9 years, but Thank Beyonce UGHQ’s Accounting Department had been on the ball about reintroducing him to a lot and his implants not deteriorating during his departure which helped in relearning everything easier - the best parts of his week was when he had to make a public appearance around the Orange District.
Don’t get him wrong, having to interact with multiple people for hours on end was tiring
Today, UG’s Leader had been helping out at one of the larger orange communal gardens and greenhouses near Rekkid and not too far from the Research District’s border called ‘Supergrass’. He’d probably have to go to ‘SoundGarden’ and ‘Rose Royce’, the two other largest greenhouses in the district, another day but this one was more open to the public so it made him accessible to his citizens.
He spent the day doing photo ops, spoke with UG and orange citizens alike, and helped with harvesting some of the fruit and vegetables that were in season while doing his best to not talk about ‘how amazing it was to not have to worry about poisonous plants every day’ because he was 100% normal and well adjusted to normal city life.
Plus, people who seemed to be worried he was some kind of robot or clone of Steven or optical illusion could see that he was 100% flesh and blood and Vibe and alive, on the outside at least. Which were only a few people actually today and seeing him in person alleviated some of those issues…Also his insides were no ones business.
After his seventh demonstration of using his Vibe to show:
‘Yes. It is me. Steven, your former Leader, now active Leader once more with the same Vibe and everything!’
Steven got back to being very normal about picking his own food he didn’t have to test to see if had any toxins and tipped his hat to a fellow UG who’d been taking his pictures today, flashing them a bright smile…Which was a very un-Steven like thing to do when he was younger…
Eh, whatever. If everyone else was allowed to change in his absence, he was allowed to be taller, older and smile about easily accessible food.
Amongst the Orange denizens who'd shown up to catch a glimpse of their leader's return was one woman who, unbeknownst to most, didn't really belong in an UG greenhouse. Though she was dressed the part: she wore burnt orange corduroy overalls over a black top, the look accessorized with round tortoiseshell sunglasses and a floppy sunhat, adorned with an orange ribbon.
At each of Steven's Vibe demonstrations, she watched him intensely from behind her glasses. When the crowd dispersed, she lingered longer than most, watching him with her head tilted to the side, like a curious cat.
Later, the woman could be seen puttering about the garden, pruning, watering, and harvesting with the rest of the gardeners. As the day grew longer and volunteers started packing up, the woman disappeared, seemingly gone home for the day.
But really, she'd snuck away to hide behind an orange rose bush, waiting for the moment where the UG leader would pass by alone. If she got her moment, she'd rustle the bush to get his attention - careful not to startle him too much! If Steven turned, he would see the woman ducking out from behind the flowers, a long-stemmed rose in hand.
Pushing the glasses down her nose, she peered at him with a playful twinkle in her black eyes. Shoulder-length black curls fell out from under the sunhat. She held the rose up to her face, tickling her pale cheek with the petals.
"Hi, Steven."
At each of Steven's Vibe demonstrations, she watched him intensely from behind her glasses. When the crowd dispersed, she lingered longer than most, watching him with her head tilted to the side, like a curious cat.
Later, the woman could be seen puttering about the garden, pruning, watering, and harvesting with the rest of the gardeners. As the day grew longer and volunteers started packing up, the woman disappeared, seemingly gone home for the day.
But really, she'd snuck away to hide behind an orange rose bush, waiting for the moment where the UG leader would pass by alone. If she got her moment, she'd rustle the bush to get his attention - careful not to startle him too much! If Steven turned, he would see the woman ducking out from behind the flowers, a long-stemmed rose in hand.
Pushing the glasses down her nose, she peered at him with a playful twinkle in her black eyes. Shoulder-length black curls fell out from under the sunhat. She held the rose up to her face, tickling her pale cheek with the petals.
"Hi, Steven."
Steven had always been pretty observant from a young age, but it added with his Vibe of hearing everything, everywhere all at once and his slight… heightened alertness he’d gained from being not on top of the food chain for years off island had kicked it into hyper o v e r d r i v e-
He’d been always good at not flinching at least, so when he’d made his way over to one of the secluded the cleaning stations surrounded with rose bushes, all that happened when the bush was shook was his eyes flicked to it and his stance widened a little, hand slowly reaching for his belt for his knife- Ah… he didn’t wear that anymore-
The orange woman suddenly appearing from behind the bushes allowed Steven to smoothly grab the handle of his basket and hoist it further up his shoulder as his posture relaxed, looking perfectly good and normal as he nodded his head at her.
Oh... She knew his name…
Well, everyone knew his name, but he wasn’t calling him ‘Boss-man’ which was odd for a citizen of UG not to do…
“Alright.” He greeted back almost automatically, almost ignoring that she was being cute at him before he paused… The faces of people he used to know were a little blurry in his memory- People changed a lot in almost 10 years, it seemed but he knew this lady’s face. Steven looked her up and down curiously because he was sure he knew her from somewhere and she was also pretty cute and maybe his type-
He’d been always good at not flinching at least, so when he’d made his way over to one of the secluded the cleaning stations surrounded with rose bushes, all that happened when the bush was shook was his eyes flicked to it and his stance widened a little, hand slowly reaching for his belt for his knife- Ah… he didn’t wear that anymore-
The orange woman suddenly appearing from behind the bushes allowed Steven to smoothly grab the handle of his basket and hoist it further up his shoulder as his posture relaxed, looking perfectly good and normal as he nodded his head at her.
Oh... She knew his name…
Well, everyone knew his name, but he wasn’t calling him ‘Boss-man’ which was odd for a citizen of UG not to do…
“Alright.” He greeted back almost automatically, almost ignoring that she was being cute at him before he paused… The faces of people he used to know were a little blurry in his memory- People changed a lot in almost 10 years, it seemed but he knew this lady’s face. Steven looked her up and down curiously because he was sure he knew her from somewhere and she was also pretty cute and maybe his type-
Bonnie held her pose for a second. Then another.
"...You don't recognize me?" she asked, sliding the sunglasses off her nose and tucking them into the front of her overalls. "I suppose it has been a long time. Though my hair now looks a bit more like the first time we met, hm?"
She did indeed look very different from the last time Steven saw her. Though the last decade had softened her in many ways, she wondered if Steven could still sense the sweet and sour green apple tang of her super strength Vibe.
Bonnie hadn't missed the way Steven had reached for a weapon. And even now, she tamped down the fight-or-flight instinct that had come to her so easily as a Bandito. But a fight wasn't the reason she was here today.
She flashed him her most charming dimpled smile and waited, giving him another chance to guess her identity.
"...You don't recognize me?" she asked, sliding the sunglasses off her nose and tucking them into the front of her overalls. "I suppose it has been a long time. Though my hair now looks a bit more like the first time we met, hm?"
She did indeed look very different from the last time Steven saw her. Though the last decade had softened her in many ways, she wondered if Steven could still sense the sweet and sour green apple tang of her super strength Vibe.
Bonnie hadn't missed the way Steven had reached for a weapon. And even now, she tamped down the fight-or-flight instinct that had come to her so easily as a Bandito. But a fight wasn't the reason she was here today.
She flashed him her most charming dimpled smile and waited, giving him another chance to guess her identity.
Steven looked over Bonnie once more when she asked him if he recognised her, and thought on it a little more, eyes flickering to the side as he tried to remember. A lot of his memories tied to other people’s faces had atrophied over the years from disuse so names tended to help kickstart the remembering process. But this ‘alleged’ UG who wasn’t sharing their name was just being cute and charming at him which, apart from being cute and charming, wasn’t helping him enough for the connection to be made.
“Hmm.” Steven hummed as his foot began to tap, hips started to sway and his shoulder rolled, the smallest of dance movements began to awaken his Vibe in him.
“Talk some more.” He said softly as he let his eyes drift close and begin to filter out all the noises that bombarded him usually, foot tapping and body moving every so slightly as his Vibe honed in on Bonnie’s voice and voice alone.
Though Bonnie may have known Steven before, had intimately been in contact with it when they had fought, his Vibe looked a little different than it did over 9 years ago as drips of liquid light began to pool off his body and floated into the air, still glowing but not as brightly or as much as he had when he was a human night light.
“Hmm.” Steven hummed as his foot began to tap, hips started to sway and his shoulder rolled, the smallest of dance movements began to awaken his Vibe in him.
“Talk some more.” He said softly as he let his eyes drift close and begin to filter out all the noises that bombarded him usually, foot tapping and body moving every so slightly as his Vibe honed in on Bonnie’s voice and voice alone.
Though Bonnie may have known Steven before, had intimately been in contact with it when they had fought, his Vibe looked a little different than it did over 9 years ago as drips of liquid light began to pool off his body and floated into the air, still glowing but not as brightly or as much as he had when he was a human night light.
Bonnie had seen Steven’s demonstration of his Vibe throughout the day, so the beads of Vibe which rolled off his shoulders now were not a surprise. Still, it fascinated her.
When Steven closed his eyes, Bonnie couldn't help but stare at the way his long eyelashes rested against his cheeks, and the curve of the glowing scar over his soft lips... Gone was the tangerine-faced perma-teen Bonnie had gotten so used to teasing over the years.
She smiled and stepped in closer towards him. She was a bit hurt that he didn't recognize her right away, but it was... understandable, given the circumstances. Still, she decided to play up her insult. She scoffed, holding a hand to her chest.
“Really? Fine, then. A guessing game it is,” she sighed dramatically, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
“Let’s see. Clue #1… the first time we fought, you found me and my friends tagging UG turf. The fight ended when I threw you in a dumpster.” Or maybe it had been the other way around?
“Your second clue. I could never beat your high score at Dance Evolution Arcade.”
“And the third clue… hm.” She paused, racking her brain for some long-gone childhood memory. Then she laughed, clapping her hands together lightly. “Aha! I’ve got it. Your favourite anime girl is Duck, from Princess Tutu.”
When Steven closed his eyes, Bonnie couldn't help but stare at the way his long eyelashes rested against his cheeks, and the curve of the glowing scar over his soft lips... Gone was the tangerine-faced perma-teen Bonnie had gotten so used to teasing over the years.
She smiled and stepped in closer towards him. She was a bit hurt that he didn't recognize her right away, but it was... understandable, given the circumstances. Still, she decided to play up her insult. She scoffed, holding a hand to her chest.
“Really? Fine, then. A guessing game it is,” she sighed dramatically, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
“Let’s see. Clue #1… the first time we fought, you found me and my friends tagging UG turf. The fight ended when I threw you in a dumpster.” Or maybe it had been the other way around?
“Your second clue. I could never beat your high score at Dance Evolution Arcade.”
“And the third clue… hm.” She paused, racking her brain for some long-gone childhood memory. Then she laughed, clapping her hands together lightly. “Aha! I’ve got it. Your favourite anime girl is Duck, from Princess Tutu.”
Steven’s Vibe latched on to waves of the woman’s voice as soon as it left her lips. He could hear each exhale and intake of breath as it filled her lungs as if her lips were pressed against each of his ears for him to hear alone.
All other sounds were drowned out. All that was left for him was:
Crisp
Clean
Audio.
Dark fingers with bright, glowing nails began to quietly drum on the side of Steven’s thigh as the woman began to speak as he began to log away her words in his mind- the voice was so familiar to him…
The first clue was hard… He’d caught so many non UG tagging in the Orange district, she might of well been half the island at this point, though the part about a dumpster seemed to unlock something.
The second was… Not right…? He didn’t remember losing to anyone at Dance Evolution Arcade apart from Craig, but that was recency bias. He’d only played a hand full of times since his return, so this person was before then-
Steven’s lips pressed together in a slight pout as his brows furrowed ever so slightly at the 3rd clue. Duck was someone he liked when he was a young boy, getting into Ballet. No one should of known that-
“Ah.” Steven’s voice rumbled, several octaves lower from his youth as he took in a deep breath before exhaling two jets of tri-coloured smoke, drips of orange Vibe dissipating from his form. His eyes slowly slid open, all molten yellows and oranges as his lip curled ever so lightly up into a slight sneer.
“Bon-nie.” The two syllables were dragged out as tendrils of smoke curled and caressed Steven’s cheeks, some of it pooling in the brim of his cap making the glow of his eyes hazy in the summer heat.
“You didn’t join UG, did you? … No… I would of seen you about earlier. What are you doing here?” He spoke smoothly and steadily, only sounding a little incredulous here and there, but there wasn't an ounce of anger his younger self would of shown in the face of this specific Dito.
All other sounds were drowned out. All that was left for him was:
Crisp
Clean
Audio.
Dark fingers with bright, glowing nails began to quietly drum on the side of Steven’s thigh as the woman began to speak as he began to log away her words in his mind- the voice was so familiar to him…
The first clue was hard… He’d caught so many non UG tagging in the Orange district, she might of well been half the island at this point, though the part about a dumpster seemed to unlock something.
The second was… Not right…? He didn’t remember losing to anyone at Dance Evolution Arcade apart from Craig, but that was recency bias. He’d only played a hand full of times since his return, so this person was before then-
Steven’s lips pressed together in a slight pout as his brows furrowed ever so slightly at the 3rd clue. Duck was someone he liked when he was a young boy, getting into Ballet. No one should of known that-
“Ah.” Steven’s voice rumbled, several octaves lower from his youth as he took in a deep breath before exhaling two jets of tri-coloured smoke, drips of orange Vibe dissipating from his form. His eyes slowly slid open, all molten yellows and oranges as his lip curled ever so lightly up into a slight sneer.
“Bon-nie.” The two syllables were dragged out as tendrils of smoke curled and caressed Steven’s cheeks, some of it pooling in the brim of his cap making the glow of his eyes hazy in the summer heat.
“You didn’t join UG, did you? … No… I would of seen you about earlier. What are you doing here?” He spoke smoothly and steadily, only sounding a little incredulous here and there, but there wasn't an ounce of anger his younger self would of shown in the face of this specific Dito.
Such an intense focus on her… Bonnie wasn’t quite sure what to do with such attention. She settled for rubbing her lips together before parting them and purring, “The one and only~”
“…Ah, no need to look at me with such a serious expression,” she said. The teasing tone dropped from her voice, and she turned her attention back to the rose. She idly circled one of the thorns with her thumb. "I'm here to extend an olive branch, per se."
“I… haven’t joined UG, no. But I suppose you could say I’ve retired from the Bandito life.” She looked up then, face melting into an easy dimpled smile. A genuine smile, free from any teasing or mockery.
“It’s good to see you again, Steven.”
She took another step closer to him, fulling invading his personal bubble now. She extended the rose until the fresh petals brushed against Steven’s nose. Boop.
“…Ah, no need to look at me with such a serious expression,” she said. The teasing tone dropped from her voice, and she turned her attention back to the rose. She idly circled one of the thorns with her thumb. "I'm here to extend an olive branch, per se."
“I… haven’t joined UG, no. But I suppose you could say I’ve retired from the Bandito life.” She looked up then, face melting into an easy dimpled smile. A genuine smile, free from any teasing or mockery.
“It’s good to see you again, Steven.”
She took another step closer to him, fulling invading his personal bubble now. She extended the rose until the fresh petals brushed against Steven’s nose. Boop.
More smoke poured from the UG leader as his Vibe began to settle again, hazy orbs shifting behind the shadow cast by his cap to follow Bonnie. He stood stock still as he listened to her speak, watched her tease and then genuinely smiled.
He wasn’t worried she’d attack him, not even being this close to the Research District’s border. Neither was he worried that she was here to try and bully him either - She could try. No… He was just a little curious what she meant by ‘Olive branch.’
“A Square, then?” He hummed as he watched her step closer, tilting his head back just a little to let the citrus collected smoke slide over the brim of his cap so she could see him properly as she stepped closer.
It was quite a different view from up here, and now he’d grown almost a full foot taller. Most of his memories of her were from bust level and up her nose as she taunted and fought him,the memories before that when they were kind to one another were buried even deeper but being almost the same height now was a treat to be sure.
“Likewise.” He hummed as he finally smiled broadly, sharp canines just peeking out between glowing scars. He leaned in slightly to smell the rose now against his nose, breathing deep before his smile turned into a grin.
“You must of missed me to come all the way over here.” He chuckled as he tilted his head ever so slightly till the silky orange petals brushed gently against his lips.
“You’re looking good. Life been treating you well, I take it now you’ve upgraded out of skates?”
He wasn’t worried she’d attack him, not even being this close to the Research District’s border. Neither was he worried that she was here to try and bully him either - She could try. No… He was just a little curious what she meant by ‘Olive branch.’
“A Square, then?” He hummed as he watched her step closer, tilting his head back just a little to let the citrus collected smoke slide over the brim of his cap so she could see him properly as she stepped closer.
It was quite a different view from up here, and now he’d grown almost a full foot taller. Most of his memories of her were from bust level and up her nose as she taunted and fought him,
“Likewise.” He hummed as he finally smiled broadly, sharp canines just peeking out between glowing scars. He leaned in slightly to smell the rose now against his nose, breathing deep before his smile turned into a grin.
“You must of missed me to come all the way over here.” He chuckled as he tilted his head ever so slightly till the silky orange petals brushed gently against his lips.
“You’re looking good. Life been treating you well, I take it now you’ve upgraded out of skates?”
“Yes, I am a Square now,” she said with a flip of her hair, matching his intonation around the word. As he tilted his head, the citrus smoke billowed over her face, but she didn’t react. Instead, she wrinkled her nose in a playful little smirk at his missed me? comment. "For the record, I still skate. Just..."
“I… have a family now. A child. So, I’m trying to live a more honest life, I suppose. And attempting to make amends with the people I hurt during my more… impulsive days.”
Bonnie hummed a "thanks" in response to his compliment about her looks. She allowed herself a moment to look him over from top to bottom. A moment to appreciate how he’d finally gotten the chance to age a bit – he’d become taller, and fuller. And evidently much less vulnerable to her teasing. “And to you as well.”
They were standing very close together now. She tucked the stem of the rose into the front pocket of his overalls. Her olive branch.
“I… have a family now. A child. So, I’m trying to live a more honest life, I suppose. And attempting to make amends with the people I hurt during my more… impulsive days.”
Bonnie hummed a "thanks" in response to his compliment about her looks. She allowed herself a moment to look him over from top to bottom. A moment to appreciate how he’d finally gotten the chance to age a bit – he’d become taller, and fuller. And evidently much less vulnerable to her teasing. “And to you as well.”
They were standing very close together now. She tucked the stem of the rose into the front pocket of his overalls. Her olive branch.
Steven’s weight shifted to the side as his eyes widened at the mention of a family, a kid! Woah. Bonnie wasn’t the only person he’d know to have a baby since he was MIA, but it didn’t stop being a little… sad. It just reminded him that he missed a lot.
“You have a kid?” He asked, his demeanour brightening up as he teased his glowing tongue between his teeth as he chuckled. “Hopefully they aren’t as much of a … handful as you were.”
He blinked a little as she noticeably looked him over, huffing a little to himself. Yes, he was older now. Big deal. Steven was going to tell Bonnie to take a picture when she complimented him back.
…
“Of course I do.” He murmured as he tilted his head away while she placed the flower on him, his glow fluctuating ever so slightly.
“You're not seeing me from just the top of my head anymore. And I’m-“ he squatted down and posed cutely as he looked up at the ex-dito. “Not looking at you from down here anymore.”
Steven’s laugh was bright and clear as he got back to stood back at his full height, hand dipping into his basket to pick out a bright, shiny tomato. He polished it on his shirt before offering to Bonnie.
“So, what? You want to be friends again or something again, Mrs Square?” He teased as the musical smoke from his Vibe had finally stopped pouring from him, though his glow seemed to stay.
“You have a kid?” He asked, his demeanour brightening up as he teased his glowing tongue between his teeth as he chuckled. “Hopefully they aren’t as much of a … handful as you were.”
He blinked a little as she noticeably looked him over, huffing a little to himself. Yes, he was older now. Big deal. Steven was going to tell Bonnie to take a picture when she complimented him back.
…
“Of course I do.” He murmured as he tilted his head away while she placed the flower on him, his glow fluctuating ever so slightly.
“You're not seeing me from just the top of my head anymore. And I’m-“ he squatted down and posed cutely as he looked up at the ex-dito. “Not looking at you from down here anymore.”
Steven’s laugh was bright and clear as he got back to stood back at his full height, hand dipping into his basket to pick out a bright, shiny tomato. He polished it on his shirt before offering to Bonnie.
“So, what? You want to be friends again or something again, Mrs Square?” He teased as the musical smoke from his Vibe had finally stopped pouring from him, though his glow seemed to stay.
Steven's smile at her news made Bonnie beam in return. As she always did when her kid was mentioned, she couldn't help but brag.
"His--no, sorry, their name is Kip. They're six years old now. They like books, and science. They're smart, and quiet, and very well-behaved. So... nothing like me, thankfully." She smirked at her own self-deprecating joke. "They're... wonderful. So, so, wonderful."
She noticed the way his cheeks glowed slightly at her gift. Aha. She felt pleased with herself for breaking his confident demeanor, even slightly. But her bravado was pulled out from under her when he squatted down and looked up at her from the ground. Her cheeks coloured and she looked away, laughing.
"Lucky me, I get to see you from every angle." She patted the brim of his baseball cap before he stood. He was taller than her now. Hm. She wasn't a fan of that.
She took the tomato offered to her, rotating it in her hands. It looked delicious. Colourful and plump. Unlike any produce she could get her hands on in the RD. Another reminder of what might have been available to her if she'd joined Steven in the UG back then. But that bridge had long since been burned.
"Thank you," she said, still idly holding the fruit, unsure of where to put it.
At his question, she drew in a long, pensive breath, giving herself some time to answer. Friends... or something. Yeah.
"...it's Ms Square, actually."
"His--no, sorry, their name is Kip. They're six years old now. They like books, and science. They're smart, and quiet, and very well-behaved. So... nothing like me, thankfully." She smirked at her own self-deprecating joke. "They're... wonderful. So, so, wonderful."
She noticed the way his cheeks glowed slightly at her gift. Aha. She felt pleased with herself for breaking his confident demeanor, even slightly. But her bravado was pulled out from under her when he squatted down and looked up at her from the ground. Her cheeks coloured and she looked away, laughing.
"Lucky me, I get to see you from every angle." She patted the brim of his baseball cap before he stood. He was taller than her now. Hm. She wasn't a fan of that.
She took the tomato offered to her, rotating it in her hands. It looked delicious. Colourful and plump. Unlike any produce she could get her hands on in the RD. Another reminder of what might have been available to her if she'd joined Steven in the UG back then. But that bridge had long since been burned.
"Thank you," she said, still idly holding the fruit, unsure of where to put it.
At his question, she drew in a long, pensive breath, giving herself some time to answer. Friends... or something. Yeah.
"...it's Ms Square, actually."
“ They sound great. Let me know when it's their birthday and I’ll send em something.” He winked as he hitched up his basket. Steven's smile grew a little as he heard more about Kip and made sure to hold his tongue and not say ‘they sound like him when he was a kid’.
“Same here.”He grinned as he adjusted his hat, watching Bonnie expectantly as she held the tomato, waiting for her to take a bite.
“I gotta say, tho.The view from up here is a lot better.” He grinned as his eyes flickered down her form for a moment then back up to gaze into her eyes. There was a pause as he blinked slowly and bit his lip, before he cracked.
“Hahaha! Ok, Ms Square.” His eyes crinkled with mirth as he took another tomato from his basket and tore into it. His eating manners had gotten a little better since he returned- eating in front of people again was sure a whole ordeal-but he didn’t think twice about licking some beads of the juice as it rolled down his arm.
“So…What is it you actually want from me?” He asked, almost about to wipe his hand on his dungarees when he paused and thought better of it. He instead made his way over to the cleaning station a few feet and turned on the tap, rinsing his hand.
“You could of just messaged me on Stepbook if you wanted to check in on me.”
“Same here.”He grinned as he adjusted his hat, watching Bonnie expectantly as she held the tomato, waiting for her to take a bite.
“I gotta say, tho.The view from up here is a lot better.” He grinned as his eyes flickered down her form for a moment then back up to gaze into her eyes. There was a pause as he blinked slowly and bit his lip, before he cracked.
“Hahaha! Ok, Ms Square.” His eyes crinkled with mirth as he took another tomato from his basket and tore into it. His eating manners had gotten a little better since he returned- eating in front of people again was sure a whole ordeal-but he didn’t think twice about licking some beads of the juice as it rolled down his arm.
“So…What is it you actually want from me?” He asked, almost about to wipe his hand on his dungarees when he paused and thought better of it. He instead made his way over to the cleaning station a few feet and turned on the tap, rinsing his hand.
“You could of just messaged me on Stepbook if you wanted to check in on me.”
The view from up here is a lot better. “Uh-huh,” Bonnie said, with a little smirk. “I’m sure it is.” Of all the differences in Steven, his blunt flirting was the starkest difference from the old Steven. The game usually went: Bonnie teased, Steven blustered. It was cute... but Bonnie liked this, too. No more beating around the bush.
She watched as he took a bite out of the tomato like it was an apple. How he licked the juice off his arm like nobody was watching.
It was… well, it was endearing, actually.
Copying him, she brought the tomato to her mouth and bit into the flesh gingerly, trying to avoid her lipstick smudging. Juice pooled in her palm, and she, too, darted her tongue out to lick it up.
She followed Steven over to the cleaning station, leaning her hip against the sink. Again, he asked what she really wanted.
You could have just messaged me… “True. But I had to see if the rumous were true,” she said. “There’ve been a lot of false Steven sightings since you left.
“But now that you’re back, you can take me on a proper date.”
She watched as he took a bite out of the tomato like it was an apple. How he licked the juice off his arm like nobody was watching.
It was… well, it was endearing, actually.
Copying him, she brought the tomato to her mouth and bit into the flesh gingerly, trying to avoid her lipstick smudging. Juice pooled in her palm, and she, too, darted her tongue out to lick it up.
She followed Steven over to the cleaning station, leaning her hip against the sink. Again, he asked what she really wanted.
You could have just messaged me… “True. But I had to see if the rumous were true,” she said. “There’ve been a lot of false Steven sightings since you left.
“But now that you’re back, you can take me on a proper date.”
Steven felt pleased when Bonnie finally bit into the tomato, though he didn’t make a show of watching her this time.
He had started cleaning some of the other vegetables he had collected, wondering if she would eat more if he offered her more when she spoke once again.
“I think me being around for a few months straight meant I was back. For reals, yeah?” He hummed softly as he placed a handful of tomatoes on the drying rack when- he laughed, head flung back and eyes shining bright.
“Huh? When did we even go on a non-proper date?” He teased as he turned back to the sink, smiling softly to himself as he shook his head.
“I thought you said your bullying days were over.” He said a little quieter as he let his gaze drift over to Bonnie.
He had started cleaning some of the other vegetables he had collected, wondering if she would eat more if he offered her more when she spoke once again.
“I think me being around for a few months straight meant I was back. For reals, yeah?” He hummed softly as he placed a handful of tomatoes on the drying rack when- he laughed, head flung back and eyes shining bright.
“Huh? When did we even go on a non-proper date?” He teased as he turned back to the sink, smiling softly to himself as he shook his head.
“I thought you said your bullying days were over.” He said a little quieter as he let his gaze drift over to Bonnie.
"I had to be sure it was true this time... as did everyone else, apparently," she said, vaguely gesturing around the garden, implying all the other UG who'd shown up today to greet their boss.
When Steven laughed, she smiled at the sound of it - loud, clear, free from self-consciousness. Again, she felt... endeared.
She liked the careful way he handled the vegetables. She watched the warm water run over his hand, admiring his wide palm and long fingers. Bonnie leaned over him, lightly brushing up against him as she did so, and turned the tap off. Trying to capture his full attention.
"I'm not teasing," she said softly, closer to his ear now.
"I have liked you for a long time, Steven. And now that you are here-" she touched his hand, still wet from the sink, "I would like to know you better."
When Steven laughed, she smiled at the sound of it - loud, clear, free from self-consciousness. Again, she felt... endeared.
She liked the careful way he handled the vegetables. She watched the warm water run over his hand, admiring his wide palm and long fingers. Bonnie leaned over him, lightly brushing up against him as she did so, and turned the tap off. Trying to capture his full attention.
"I'm not teasing," she said softly, closer to his ear now.
"I have liked you for a long time, Steven. And now that you are here-" she touched his hand, still wet from the sink, "I would like to know you better."
As Bonnie brushed up against Steven, each point she made contact with him felt hot and alive. He’d only been back for a few months now and human touch after so many years of being deprived of it was still… overwhelming to a degree, especially if he wasn’t prepared. Handshakes and hugs were something he’d been steadily growing accustomed to, but he’d had enough of a crash course with people pressing up against him now he was grown enough to flirt with that he managed to stay composed as his gaze was set ahead on his task.
He exhaled as Bonnie spoke softly however, his Vibe heightening the feeling of her waves of her voice against his ear so it tickled him slightly.
It definitely felt like she was teasing him… especially with her saying that she always- the tips of his ears began to glow ever so slightly as her fingers touched his.
Her touch felt like basking in sunlight-
Dark fingers slid in between pale ones as Steven laced them together till their palms met tenderly. As he brought their intertwined hands up, he twirled Bonnie slowly till she was between him and the sink, but always leaving enough between them their bodies so she didn’t feel trapped.
“Yeah?” He hummed, voice low and rumbling as he brought her hand to his lips. He placed one gentle kiss against her knuckle, then another.
“I know I was a bit of a muppet back then when I was shorter, but if I’d known your Kermit crush was that strong-“ he waggled his eyebrows at her as he pressed their hands to his mouth to cover up his delighted laughter, the curve of his lips evident against her fingers.
He exhaled as Bonnie spoke softly however, his Vibe heightening the feeling of her waves of her voice against his ear so it tickled him slightly.
It definitely felt like she was teasing him… especially with her saying that she always- the tips of his ears began to glow ever so slightly as her fingers touched his.
Dark fingers slid in between pale ones as Steven laced them together till their palms met tenderly. As he brought their intertwined hands up, he twirled Bonnie slowly till she was between him and the sink, but always leaving enough between them their bodies so she didn’t feel trapped.
“Yeah?” He hummed, voice low and rumbling as he brought her hand to his lips. He placed one gentle kiss against her knuckle, then another.
“I know I was a bit of a muppet back then when I was shorter, but if I’d known your Kermit crush was that strong-“ he waggled his eyebrows at her as he pressed their hands to his mouth to cover up his delighted laughter, the curve of his lips evident against her fingers.
The kisses on her hand were—unexpected. With each gentle press of his lips, Bonnie felt her face heat up a little more. He was so… warm. Bonnie couldn’t help but lean into his gentle touch, to relish in the soft press of their palms together.
He really was beautiful. She wanted to tell him so. And she knew touch starvation when she saw it. With her other hand, she dipped her fingers into the front of his overalls and pulled him closer until their chests bumped together. She was ready to see how his lips felt against hers-- but then he brought up the fucking Kermit thing--
“Oh my god-- I was five years old!” she shoved at his chest, breaking their embrace... but she was laughing. “Hmph. Brat." There was no heat in the word, and she smirked at him. Then she held out her hand towards him expectantly. "Give me your phone. Let me give you my new number."
He really was beautiful. She wanted to tell him so. And she knew touch starvation when she saw it. With her other hand, she dipped her fingers into the front of his overalls and pulled him closer until their chests bumped together. She was ready to see how his lips felt against hers-- but then he brought up the fucking Kermit thing--
“Oh my god-- I was five years old!” she shoved at his chest, breaking their embrace... but she was laughing. “Hmph. Brat." There was no heat in the word, and she smirked at him. Then she held out her hand towards him expectantly. "Give me your phone. Let me give you my new number."
Steven was so used to pushing Bonnie’s buttons in the past when he was just a UG goon and she was Dito punk , knowing what would make her swear at him, shove him or on one of those rare occurrences, even make her snort with laughter just before she threw a punch at him. So when he saw her flush such a delightful pink at him simply kissing her hand, there was a slight sliver of satisfaction that ran through him.
How many times has she bullied a blush out of him over the years? Teased him till the point he was near tears?And why did he keep on hoping they’d run into each other again after each fight they had?
But all he had to do to make Bonnibel Anne Bailey, his once friend come rival of many years to blush was be sweet with her… That began to awaken something he’d thought he’d had let go ever since he’d been dumped on that ‘other island.’.
He breathed out as she pulled him closer, each burning point of contact flooding him with her concentrated sounds, all other noise drowning out as his Vibe began to swallow every new bit of information.
He could hear the friction of their fabric as the chest met, the way it shifted when she took an intake of breath, the vibrations of her lungs expanding and contracting, the subtle rhythmic thump of her heart flooding his own chest. The whites of Steven’s pupils yawned a little wider as he stared into hers, and-
The moment was cut short when he was pushed away, all the sounds surrounding him came rushing back in an instant.
“You weren’t five when we met, Bonnie~” He let out a tiny little breathy laugh as he let go of her hand, his skin still buzzing with warmth from her touch.
“And I distinctly remember you having a little Kermit pin or sticker or something when you were Punk adult…” He grinned as he fished his phone out of his overalls, feeling himself return back to normal now they had some space.
“Bonnie, this is my personal phone. I might have very secret saucy pics on here so don’t snoop, yeah?”
How many times has she bullied a blush out of him over the years? Teased him till the point he was near tears?
But all he had to do to make Bonnibel Anne Bailey, his once friend come rival of many years to blush was be sweet with her… That began to awaken something he’d thought he’d had let go ever since he’d been dumped on that ‘other island.’.
He breathed out as she pulled him closer, each burning point of contact flooding him with her concentrated sounds, all other noise drowning out as his Vibe began to swallow every new bit of information.
He could hear the friction of their fabric as the chest met, the way it shifted when she took an intake of breath, the vibrations of her lungs expanding and contracting, the subtle rhythmic thump of her heart flooding his own chest. The whites of Steven’s pupils yawned a little wider as he stared into hers, and-
The moment was cut short when he was pushed away, all the sounds surrounding him came rushing back in an instant.
“You weren’t five when we met, Bonnie~” He let out a tiny little breathy laugh as he let go of her hand, his skin still buzzing with warmth from her touch.
“And I distinctly remember you having a little Kermit pin or sticker or something when you were Punk adult…” He grinned as he fished his phone out of his overalls, feeling himself return back to normal now they had some space.
“Bonnie, this is my personal phone. I might have very secret saucy pics on here so don’t snoop, yeah?”
Moderators: AJ_89 Steven (played by Robo-Craig) QnQ Hide Miyagawa (played by Monoclejack) Chroma (played by lewsey)
