Chapter Text

Lars couldn’t believe his eyes.

The figure before him, face and shining gem being projected on every surface and holo-surface in sight, boomed out in a voice Lars hadn’t ever heard before. Maybe once. Deeper than expected, looking older than he should.

But no one who knew him, no matter how long ago, could glance at the televised message without recognizing Steven Universe.

“I am proud to announce,” the voice echoed around Homeworld’s towering buildings. “That after years of diplomacy talks and ship construction, and thanks to the generous cooperation of your Diamonds, the Earth is officially open for immigration! No longer will Homeworld discard or shatter gems. The Earth is at long last an official Homeworld colony for anyone who feels unwelcome in Homeworld, or even those who want to explore the Earth’s natural beauty for themselves!”

Steven looked young–in his early twenties?–but there was a maturity ringing in his voice. Was that natural, or the product of this apparently much-rehearsed announcement?

The off-colors weren’t exactly tuned in to Homeworld pop culture, but the news of Steven’s new initiative had rippled through every gem community on the planet, and probably gems off the planet too. Lars had finagled his way to being a member of this audience, scrimped and saved and paid scalper’s fees, all for the privilege of looking at his friend from a good mile or so away. Pushing and shoving his way as far to the front as he could go, and screaming and waving on the off chance that Steven had developed some kinda super-hearing in the last couple years, seemed to have no effect but to annoy the gems around him.

Which sucked, because this was an awesome-looking group. Any other day, Lars would have been marveling at how prestigious sapphires and holly blue agates were rubbing shoulders with fusions and off-colors, as if they really were as equal as Steven was loudly saying they were.

“Fusion of every kind, temporary or permanent, is celebrated on Earth. No matter your color, your cut, your gem, we’ll welcome you happily as an equal! Earth has been a refuge for so many gems who only wanted to live as themselves, and now we’re inviting anybody and everybody!

“Ships will travel between our star systems free of cost. If you change your mind about emigration, Homeworld is only a short ship ride away! While we work on establishing our revolutionary new community on Earth, we welcome everyone to participate and communicate with their friends on Homeworld.” For the first time in the well-rehearsed, joyfully delivered speech, Steven’s voice held a hitch of emotion.

“For too long our worlds have fought. Too long have we been separated by more than the distance between our planets.

“Years ago, a close friend of mine, a human, became stranded on your planet–alone and afraid. Despite the danger to themselves, some generous off-colors took him in as one of their own.” A pause in the speech. Steven wasn’t looking at the camera anymore. He knew Lars was here. Of course he did. Why wasn’t he trying to find him?

“I tried to send him provisions, but… we didn’t have a way to communicate.” Lars had guessed that Lion had somehow become missing soon after his disappearance, but this was a sort of confirmation. Lars nodded to himself decisively. Not that he would have ever blamed Steven for leaving him here. Not after what Steven had done the last day they’d spoken, that first time they’d escaped the Diamonds.

“Humans have different needs than gems. They have needs that… Homeworld can’t provide. And if their form gets broken… they can’t come back.”

Lars’s eyes popped open at the weird tangent this speech had gone on. Steven knew that wasn’t true! He’d healed Lars himself! Brought him back from the dead! He knew Lars didn’t need to eat or sleep or drink anymore. How else could he have survived this long?!

Though… they hadn’t spoken. They hadn’t been able to talk at all since that first day. These past years (how long had it been, exactly? How should Lars know?), had Steven really thought…?

Steven, onscreen, cleared his throat. Brushing away emotion to deal with another time. A watery smile appeared on his face, though it clear brighter and more sincere every second. The screen split–half Steven’s face, half a satellite map of… what was that desert’s name again? The Sahara? “That’s why I’m so pleased to announce the official opening of the Barriga Memorial Interstellar Refugee Center!”

Any other words Steven said–which seemed to be a repetition of ‘a place where anyone from anywhere can live as they choose’ or something like it–were drowned out by sudden noise. Clapping which swelled into a deafening rumble of screams and cheers and applause. Apparently the recording was live–after a few seconds, Steven realized he wasn’t audible anymore and shut his mouth, raising a hand for a triumphant wave and gesture at some kind of building blueprints that were pulled up alongside the map.

Lars’s mouth went dry. There was no space. There was only countless gem’s bodies crushed between him and the speaker.

He had to get to Steven. Now.

But how?