A/N: So here's another one of these, alongside the previous chapter that I took down before. More on that below. Hope you like this!

(I don't own Steven Universe)

Curiosity

"The movies usually get that part right. It is pretty darn nice. A fun way to show someone how you feel about them."

"Oh, get over yourself, Garcia," Amethyst drew out, groaning as dramatically as the woman she was reprimanding. Steven feigned a similar groan, rolling his eyes and slouching further into the side of his bed. Garcia's melodramatic faint wasn't exactly a tear-jerker the first time, so seeing her melodramatic faint a second time was even less enjoyable. Not that it was out of place; Rogelio's equally melodramatic reveal of being the ex of the operator's patient felt fitting in a show as dramatic as Under the Knife. Amethyst's complaint was just equally fitting. That wasn't to say that she wasn't enjoying herself, nor was that to say that Steven had switched opinions of the show to act "cool". Their combined ragging on the show had turned into something of a fun activity the moment Steven had introduced his companion to Under the Knife.

They'd first begun a few days ago. After a particularly stressful mission, Amethyst had the good instinct to relax for a few moments and try to forget about the usual worries and/or responsibilities that came with defending Earth from forces both terrestrial and otherwise. Likewise, Steven had felt they deserved a rest after all that had been said and done, and retired to his room. Amethyst had followed him. The two didn't have much of an idea on what could so easily distract from the conglomerate of anxieties being a Crystal Gem brought with the title. That was, until Steven had the good fortune of seeing the pile of old tapes Connie had forgotten to bring back to her house.

Amethyst, of course, saw the weathered boxes alongside Steven. He did his best to explain what he could without spoiling too much about the series. At some undefinable point in the explanation, he realized how unlikely it would've been that Amethyst would enjoy something so remarkably dramatic. Probably around saying "but it was actually her ex posing as the doctor's nurse's brother to get back at the doctor's ex's sister" was where he lost Amethyst. Still, she didn't seem entirely disinterested at the time. A brief shrug later, the Gem had popped the first of the tapes in, and promptly sat at the foot of Steven's bed. Needless to say, he joined her.

What had initially begun as an excitement to get his best friend in on a laughably convoluted television show had turned into an enjoyable effort to make fun of the show. Amethyst was the first to point out its flaw, of course. Well, she pointed out the first one. Mentioning the gap in logic that came with a hospital where relationships came before actually working as a doctor had only been the first of many eye-rolls. Steven didn't feel all that offended by how Amethyst fell into mocking the show's obvious shortcomings. The way he saw it, as long as Amethyst was enjoying it in some regard, then he'd enjoy watching Under the Knife with her. And boy, did she like making fun of the show. The list of plot-holes and poor character decisions was staggering only one episode in, and with every mistake came the usual laughter people make ragging on something with their best friend. It wasn't out of any malicious intent or offended criticism; it was just fun to make fun of it.

Two episodes in, and Steven had decided to join her. There were little comments at first; how his favorite character had somehow completely failed an eye-exam despite also having a job as a prolific taxi driver without glasses. Out of curiosity, Steven had looked up the results stated in the show. He wasn't sure if it was even possible to score that badly without being blind. Of course, Amethyst goaded him on from there, and soon the watchers both new and experienced cut into Under the Knife like… well, a knife. Their session of laughing at the show had lasted much longer than either would've assumed, and by the time night had began gripping at Steven's eyelids, they were already a season and a half in. The following day, it was as though they never stopped in the first place. Just minutes after finishing breakfast, Amethyst was back up in Steven's room, calling him over for another session of Under the Knife. Not even a dozen minutes later, she rolled her eyes at Garcia's "character".

"Oh, Alejandro," she swooned from the television's screen, putting her wrist on her forehead in that dramatic way old actresses did, "was it worth it?"

Steven found himself smirking despite the initial investment he had the first time he'd witnessed such acting. It wasn't exactly graceful, and having his closest companion mention Alejandro's lengthy explanation about how it was absolutely worth it led to more than a few chuckles. Amethyst laughed herself, momentarily leaning to the side of Steven's bed. Steven shook his head, relaxing against the back of the wooden board that supported his mattress.

"It will be," a machismo voice responded, the titular actor thrusting his chest forwards and removing his stereotypical doctor's mirror from his forehead. Garcia swooned again, subsequently leading to a couple more moments of laughing as Amethyst pointed out how visible the boom mic was when it almost bumped into the actress. While the mandatory seconds of dramatic rain passed, Amethyst held out an unopened soda can to Steven.

"Here," she offered. Steven looked at it for a moment, his smile lingering. Amethyst's stayed glued to her features too, the Gem evidently still enjoying the show with her friend. Steven took the drink after another moment, feeling his smile widen.

"Thanks," he granted, waiting for the next disaster of a scene to start. Going by Amethyst's standards, there were plenty of opportunities in this episode alone. Curious, Steven glanced at the soda for another second. He couldn't recall his friend making any sort of visit to the fridge prior. "Where'd you get this, though?"

Amethyst revealed her own gleaming soda can, taking a long swig before lowering it back down to answer. A minor and fittingly unfeminine belch interrupted. She spoke without missing a beat.

"From your secret stash," she told Steven bluntly, her eyes returning to the screen. Steven's own gaze did the opposite, jumping from the drawn-out shot of the hospital to his friend's. She didn't say anything else, amusingly. Amethyst seemed eager to pick on whatever scene came next. Then, with a shrug, Steven popped open the lid, enjoying his own soda. It was the thought of Amethyst's sharing that counted.

Just as he opened his mouth, Amethyst broke out into a sudden laughter, pulling Steven back to the television he missed. Alejandro stared unflinchingly at some point on the horizon, Garcia now in his arms with a dreadfully wistful look on her features. The image's familiarity prevented Steven from being able to match Amethyst's laughter right away. Not for his emotional investment, though.

"They really don't know what overboard means, huh?" Amethyst asked Steven, throwing an elbow out in an in-joke kind of way. Steven chuckled as best as he could, understanding what Amethyst was referring to. More than over-board, the shot on the TV epitomized drama. Between the rain, wind, lighting, candles, and even flowers, saying that the show was being excessive would be a gross understatement. Still, as laughably exaggerated as the current shot was, the performance of the characters left Steven too uncomfortable to really make fun of it. Amethyst, of course, had no issues.

"Annnd they're kissin' now," she said. The Gem brought up her palm, as if checking something off an imaginary list. There really wasn't much else left the show could do to be any more theatrical. Steven stayed quiet as he drank from his soda, allowing Amethyst to fill in over what must've been at least three separate orchestras. "Wow, think they're close enough yet?"

Amethyst eventually heard Steven's silence, glancing at him. He shrugged, rolling his eyes as if to repeat Amethyst's question. She tilted her head in curiosity, but didn't ask Steven about it. Instead, she shrugged herself, looking back to the television. "They're really focusing on that smooching, huh?"

Considering the show's standards, Steven wasn't too surprised at the length of the shot. Not anymore than the first time he saw it. He hummed agreement, drinking from his soda again. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Amethyst give him another curious look, humming a little herself. Whatever she had to say about the candles somehow staying lit in direct rain never left her mouth. Instead, she matched Steven's silence, leaning on the board of his bed-box as the shot slowly faded out.

It wasn't that Steven intentionally drove the mood south. Being aware of Amethyst's curiosity didn't give him much incentive to speak, which was ironic considering what was on his mind. Just a question, albeit probably an out of place one. Amethyst didn't take the sudden discomfort too poorly, doing her best to maintain their streak of ragging, but each comically correct sin she granted Under the Knife only made Steven more aware of how difficult he found ignoring his question. A lengthy look from Amethyst finally persuaded him to speak.

"Was that, um, accurate?" he asked, forcing himself to look at the TV. Of course now was the time the show stopped being remotely interesting, making his gaze feel even less natural. It felt plenty unnatural in the first place. Amethyst halted her drinking for a moment, once again tilting her head towards Steven. He hoped he wouldn't have to connect the dots for her. After a brief pause, she asked a question of her own.

"You mean that kissin'?" she began slowly, sounding hesitant to assume much about her companion. Steven rubbed the back of his neck, the rug under his legs suddenly feeling scratchy. He nodded. Amethyst paused again, though the quiet felt more skeptical than contemplative.

"You're asking if that was accurate?" she questioned, laughing somewhat. A mixture of uncertainty and humor dominated her tone. Steven shook his head, attempting to explain himself.

"Not like that," he tried, feeling a light warmth rise to his cheeks. He knew of the show's shortcomings in realism before even really considering them, due in large part to Amethyst. His question had a broader scale. "I mean, like, is it always… dramatic? I don't mean that dramatic, but…"

Steven sighed. The television seemed to grow quieter, as did the ambient noises of the morning beach outside his bedroom window. "They always make it seem like that in movies and TV and stuff. I just don't think it can be like that every time. Can it?"

Amethyst didn't seem to expect Steven's explanation. "That's what you're iffy about?"

It didn't take long for the rest of her attention to move to Steven. The look in her eyes graduated from skeptical to genuinely curious. Steven nodded, humming a quick yes. Whatever apprehension Amethyst had about his sudden shyness left her features in a matter of moments.

"Wow," she said, looking at her soda for a second, "could've sworn you were uncomfortable 'cause you're getting to that…"

Abruptly, Amethyst cleared her throat, facing Steven directly again. He sat patiently, awaiting an answer. Of all the people that he had to ask, Amethyst was probably the last to make much of a big deal about it, hence Steven's willingness to question. Her being one of his best friends also made things a tad easier. Steven always did appreciate how she could treat things so casually, regardless of their scale. Some moments of thought passed, then Amethyst reached towards the television's remote and lowered the volume.

"Nevermind." After a brief hum, she sat up straighter against the makeshift chair that the ground and bed turned into, as if trying to get more comfortable. Her features were equal parts hesitant and thoughtful, which wasn't the most usual expression Steven had seen her with. The Gem moved some of the long bangs from her face as she spoke. "Gonna be honest, I'm probably the least qualified Gem to tell ya about kissing. That's definitely G's department."

Steven blinked. Compared to the mischievous tone she had just a minute ago when she was making fun of Under the Knife, Amethyst could've been a lone middle-schooler forgetting her lines on-stage. Maybe she couldn't switch gears as easily as Steven assumed. Since he expected about the opposite kind of voice, Steven asked another question he could only let out of his mouth in Amethyst's presence.

"Have you, uh, kissed people before?" he asked, unsure of how to interpret Amethyst's caveat. Of course, Amethyst immediately responded with a skeptical snort, rolling her eyes in mock offense.

"I've been around for a while, Steven," she told him, as if she was just asked if her favorite color was purple. Not that she seemed actually offended, but Steven's second question was definitely faster to get a reply than his first. "You think I've never kissed someone in like a bajillion years? Rude."

"I do," Steven tried explaining. The conversation was taking a remarkably personal turn, but Amethyst genuinely didn't seem offended. More like she was taking advantage of Steven's caution to avoid accidental insult (which, to be fair, was pretty in-line with her usual character). Regardless, Steven clarified what he could without being too overt, the warmth in his cheeks persisting. "I just didn't want to assume."

Amethyst chuckled, evidently enjoying Steven's apprehension to offend. She thought for a moment. Eventually, she breathed out a quick confirmation.

"Yeah," she said, shrugging casually. Steven felt himself relax a tad as Amethyst spoke in her usually easy-going tone. "I've done my fair share o' smoochin'. I was pretty darn good at it. Still am, actually."

Something about how easily Amethyst addressed a topic like kissing eased the rest of the tension from Steven's body. They were just two good friends, talking about something one was genuinely curious about. Nothing felt too awkward to say at the moment. Amethyst continued, reading the conversation well enough to avoid one of her usual jokes in favor of an honest exchange.

"And it's almost never like it is in movies," she told Steven bluntly. He didn't necessarily deflate at the fact, suspecting for a while that it was another thing Hollywood inflated for the theater. Having an experienced companion like Amethyst tell him directly made him more understanding than anything else. Obviously, Steven respected her enough to avoid prodding about details. Hearing about her past partners wasn't something he explicitly fancied, either, though it was difficult to tell why, at first. Almost like a distant form of… resentment, somehow.

An explosion from the TV interrupted Steven's train of thought. Both Gems looked back to the screen, seeing an image of the hospital on fire. Still in a torrential downpour, too. Amethyst raised an eyebrow, muttering some question about what exactly she missed.

"One of the actors fought with the director," Steven passed off casually, "so they had to write him out of the show."

"Ahh," Amethyst breathed out, nodding. Despite the excessive trio of orchestras returning to the TV's speakers, she looked back at Steven, still invested in his question. "But yeah, can't really remember the last time I thought kissing in the middle of some hurricane was a good idea. They just play it up for kicks."

Under the Knife was a prime example of "playing it up", so Steven wasn't all that surprised. He looked at the television for a few seconds, then spoke up again.

"What's it like?" he asked.

That seemed to be pushing the envelope. Amethyst paused, raising an eyebrow to Steven's curious features. She didn't react to his question right away, either thinking or giving Steven time to realize what he asked. With how trivial their conversation felt, he didn't realize how out of bounds he just was until after the fact. In the next second, Steven apologized.

"Sorry," he said, shaking his head. The heat on his face expanded, matching the awkwardness he earlier assumed was nonexistent. Between that and his arguably boyish curiosity, the only thing that he could confidently say was an apology. "I didn't mean to make it weird."

A laugh left Amethyst's lips, though it wasn't explicitly derisive or mocking. It sounded aptly casual. She moved herself a bit closer to Steven's side, the confusion on her face making way for an easing expression as she placed her soda on the bedroom floor.

"You're good," she laughed off, patting his shoulder. She wasn't all that off-put by how awkward Steven thought he made their conversation. Now she seemed as casual as she was a moment ago, like Steven's question was as normal as a question on her favorite type of soda (though he already knew it was the one she just put down). "Trust me, I had my own questions 'bout kissing, and that was without that awkward 'pew-ver-key' humans get."

A confused frown forced Steven's eyebrows downwards. It took a few seconds to process what Amethyst was talking about. "I don't think that's how you pronounce—"

"The movies usually get that part right," Amethyst interrupted, shrugging. Steven was more interested in Amethyst's answer than correcting her, so he fell into an attentive quiet. Just like before, she seemed to treat his curiosity in stride. "It is pretty darn nice. A fun way to show someone how you feel about them."

Steven nodded. That part was easy to understand. Given his past observations with Ruby and Sapphire, it seemed like more than just something couples did. Like it was a way of talking, almost. Amethyst confirmed as much, now moving an elbow to the mattress behind her in a lazy lean.

"And, yeah, it can get a little intense," she told Steven honestly, "but it ain't like stuff gets lost in translation."

Though a little more vague, Steven thought he understood that part, too. Amethyst's laid-back tone had its own way of communicating to him. She glanced at him, seemingly checking if her explanation was satisfactory. Getting an honest answer instead of a diversion or unhelpful silence was appreciated enough. Unexpectedly, Amethyst asked a question of her own, now raising a suspicious eyebrow.

"Any one reason you're gettin' curious?" she inquired. Her voice had the exact tone she used when she already knew the answer to what she was asking, though now it felt more like she knew what she was implying more than anything else. Of course, as honest as Amethyst was about a traditionally more personal topic, Steven couldn't completely hide the red on his cheeks. Amethyst continued, seeing his blush. "Maybe somethin' else you wanna talk about? Or… someone?"

"Um, no," he replied, shaking his head. There wasn't an explicit reason, per se, but there were other topics Steven wanted to keep under wraps. For now, at least. Keeping them from Amethyst was especially important, mostly due to the implications he didn't want to (or rather couldn't) explain. Out of paranoia, he expanded on his dismissal, subsequently devaluing it. Not that Amethyst probably would've believed him either way. "I was just wondering about that part. If it's always so dramatic, I mean."

"Mhm," Amethyst hummed, looking back forwards. She took a knowing sip of her soda, opting for silence instead of investigating Steven further. He appreciated that part. Still, though she read enough of his curiosity to avoid openly investigating, Amethyst seemed more than a little interested in what Steven was thinking about. Both Gems returned to watching the television. Judging by how Amethyst didn't move to increase the volume or even resume making fun of the show, Steven got the idea there was more she wanted to say. His assumption turned true in a matter of minutes.

"How curious are ya, anyways?" she asked abruptly, feigning a casual tone. Steven glanced at her, his soda frozen an inch away from his mouth. Some curiosity of her own could be seen on her features despite the normalcy of her voice. "Y'know, about kissin'?"

The soda in front of Steven's face didn't move for quite some time. He opted for befuddlement instead of some flustered response, which wasn't particularly difficult to recreate when he genuinely was a little confused. "What do you mean?"

Amethyst snorted, not buying Steven's ignorance. Her question was too simple to cause that much of a misunderstanding.

"Sounded like you never kissed before," Amethyst said, again in her casually blunt tone. To be fair, her assumption wasn't that out of place. Steven's cheeks felt warm anyways. Amethyst chuckled lightly, growing a bit quieter over the next few seconds. "Which, believe me, is fine. You don't strike me as some Casanova-type dude. More like a candle-light kinda guy."

"Well, technically…" Steven tried waving off. They seemed to flip sides, Amethyst asking the questions and Steven more-or-less having to answer them. The one consistency was how easily either person was treating the conversation. "I've, um, kissed before."

"Pfft," Amethyst blew out a skeptical raspberry, rolling her eyes. She seemed too smart to not read between the lines. "Y'know what I mean, Steven. Like a kiss kind of kiss, not for healing or whatever. On the mouth n' everything."

Now that she defined exactly what she meant (though really Steven had understood that part by the first question), he hesitated a moment before shaking his head. Amethyst nodded in response.

"But ya wanted to," she concluded, evidently not needing Steven to answer that one. He sat up straighter, recoiling with a fervent shake of his head. Amethyst raised her arms defensively. "Maybe not that Connie lady, but you've wanted to kiss someone, right?"

Steven's quickness to respond did little to help his case. Mentioning a specific name only made it worse. "No, I can't, uh, think of anyone I'd…"

Given how easily Amethyst was treating the situation, she seemed to take offense to Steven's dismissal. The Gem rolled her eyes again, moving closer towards him. Her knee came into contact with his.

"C'mon, Steven," she pressed, throwing one palm upwards in an easing kind of motion. "It's kissin'. There're worse things to feel guilty about."

That was true. Steven stared at his companion for a couple seconds, who still maintained an understanding expression on her features. Amethyst being, for lack of a better description, herself eased Steven enough that his faux denial faded away. The tension in his back evaporated as he conceded.

"…sometimes," he eventually breathed out, rubbing the back of his neck. The crimson in his cheeks felt glued in place. He didn't want to get into the specifics of whom or when, but Amethyst thankfully didn't ask about that. For once, she didn't move to prod Steven about it, instead keeping her role of confidant. It ironically made it both easier and harder to keep quiet.

"Don't gotta give me details," she told him. The Gem moved even closer still, reaching an arm around Steven's shoulders and leaning a little into him. By now, they were about equal in terms of height, leaving Steven a tad closer to her face than expected. She didn't deem it important enough to note out loud, so Steven didn't either. He spoke slowly, explaining further.

"They always made it seem like a big deal, though," he said, motioning towards the television screen. As if to prove his point, two secondary characters (Steven never bothered to learn their names; when a cast was dangerously far into double digits, there's only so many names that can be remembered) were currently locking lips as a raging inferno of a building blazed around them. The boom mic was semi-visible again. "I was asking because, well… I didn't want to mess it up or anything in case it was a big deal."

Amethyst shook her head, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Hollywood, man," she joked. "They ain't exactly known for setting realistic standards."

Steven gave a small laugh in response, naturally taking Amethyst's lean with his subtle own.

"And, hey," Amethyst continued, her tone growing softer. Her grip around Steven's shoulders tightened to pull him inwards. "Normal to be nervous about it, too, Steven. Pretty sure that's par for the course."

They shared a quiet moment for a short while. Abruptly, the Gem cleared her throat. She reached to the side for a moment, grasping the television remote with her free hand. After a glance at the remote's buttons, she pointed it towards the TV, muting the actor's despairing scream into the storm. Steven's bedroom became extremely quiet, the only other noise being the subtle sounds of the tide outside. Curious, Steven looked to Amethyst's features, the Gem appearing fairly nervous for someone that spent so much time recently easing his doubts.

"Now, I ain't trying to assume nothing," she prefaced, her arm still around Steven's shoulder. She still held the television remote in her other hand, laying her arm over an outstretched leg. "But… I'm gonna guess you're real nervous about your first kiss, too? Like, that one specifically?"

Amethyst's hesitation to assume was ironically out of place, considering she'd been right so far. Most of the anxieties Steven had were, according to Amethyst, fairly standard for human people and Gems alike. Plus, Steven doubted that there was much of a difference between his thoughts now and the ones Amethyst had when she was still foreign to kissing. He hummed a brief yes, part of him wondering if there was a point or direction Amethyst was going.

"Hm," she hummed again, placing the remote to her side and drumming her fingers against her knee. A fraction of doubt settled underneath her features. Obviously, Steven trusted her enough to take whatever she said next with confidence.

"You wanna kiss right now?" she asked him.

Steven's features didn't move for a couple seconds. The most he did in response to Amethyst's question was blink, his brain still processing what she said. Somehow, the surrounding quiet amplified his inability to reply. Amethyst didn't move herself, still looking expectantly towards Steven's face as his mind refused to function. Then the Gem cleared her throat, reiterating her question.

"Did'ya hear me?" she asked, tilting her head. Apparently, the blank expression on Steven's face gave her little to interpret. "I was asking if—"

"Y-yeah!" Steven tried waving off, eventually finding the words to speak out of sheer instinct. Then he realized what he implied by the surprise on Amethyst's face, forcing more words out of his mouth. "I-I mean, yes, I did hear you— I wasn't saying yeah to what you asked— but, um, I'm not saying no, either—"

Before he could dig himself a deeper hole, Amethyst broke out into a loud laughter, her scratchy chuckling interrupting Steven's flustering. It thankfully meant he could stop speaking. Though, he had to blame Amethyst for his inability to speak in the first place, so the whole thing kind of balanced out.

"Oof, yeah," she drew out between laughs, shaking her head. Though there was a familiar amount of humor in her features, Steven found it impossible to ignore the slightly darker tint of violet adorning her cheeks. She spoke before he could think much more about it. "You're a nervous wreck, dude."

"Wreck" was a bit much, Steven thought. Then again, he had to compare his anxiety now with how at ease Amethyst had allowed him to feel earlier through mere honesty. Subsequently, he also had to remember Amethyst was part of the reason the awkwardness had caught up in the first place.

"Well, you asked if I wanted to kiss!" Steven tried defending himself, making an attempt to cross his arms. Years of experience let him know that faking seriousness wasn't one of his strong suits. "I wasn't— nobody expects that, Amethyst!"

Amethyst only chuckled again, obviously enjoying Steven's reaction. As opposed to her usual teasing, though, it didn't seem like her laughter now had any mischievous intentions or origins. Like she was laughing with Steven instead of at his misfortune. He wasn't laughing himself, but he'd be lying if he said the casual attitude Amethyst maintained hadn't lifted some of his anxieties.

"Eh," she told him, shrugging. Leaning against him made his own shoulder raise as an effect. "Couples usually get used to that. From my experience, it's pretty normal to ask."

Amethyst went quiet after her admittance. Steven didn't have much of a response, so he did his best to assess his friend's features instead. She wasn't explicitly nervous, but there was some uncertainty in there. What she'd said about couples seemed to leave her with some kind of doubt. The rolling screen of credits she was looking at on the television's screen wasn't that interesting, unless she was reading the copious amount of typos.

"Or… y'know, just really good friends," she clarified, her tone losing its casual nature for a moment. "They can ask, too." Her voice was nearly a whisper, she'd muttered the words so quietly. Regardless, she shook her head, looking back to Steven. The subtle violet on her cheeks hadn't left yet. "It doesn't have to mean nothin'."

The Gem hesitated again before continuing. "I ain't asking to marry ya. Just thought you'd like the practice without all the awkwardness of it being for real."

So that was Amethyst's intention. For some reason, her asking Steven if he wanted to kiss held a lot more importance than she gave it, at least to him. Something about smooching his best friend should've been important, somehow. At the same time, it was pretty clear Amethyst didn't attribute much, if any, romantic implications on the relationship they already had with each other. The fact probably should've relaxed Steven, but he found himself oddly neutral about it. As neutral as one can be about being offered to kiss their best friend without having to really explain or give reasoning to it.

Now that he'd gotten time to think, Steven would've assumed he could've answered by now. He was wrong. The Gem didn't exactly become flustered again, but he still hesitated. There were so many complications and implications that he wasn't sure what Amethyst wanted, if she even did, him to answer. Not to mention what their obvious gap in experience left him feeling.

"I-I don't know, Amethyst," he answered honestly. As much as he appreciated his companion's ease in what she offered, Steven just couldn't treat it with as much triviality. That said, he wasn't explicitly denying Amethyst, either, leaving her with a frown on her face. Amethyst shook her head in a vague expression of annoyance. She let out a short huff of air, a sigh bordering on a groan.

Then, in one swift motion, she ducked her head towards Steven, planting her lips on his for little more than a second or two.

The action was so quick that he wasn't even sure if it'd happened. One moment he was attempting to register what his mouth was telling him, and the next, Amethyst pulled away, facing forwards again like nothing ever happened. Still, the lingering feeling on his lips let him know enough to understand what Amethyst had just done.

"There, see?" she told him, her voice almost smug of an "I told you so" attitude. If Steven still wasn't recoiling, he would've noticed the subtle shake in her tone. "Just a normal kiss between buds. Nothin' intense or anything."

The first thing to leave Steven's mouth wasn't really what he was expecting.

"I-I wasn't ready!"

Amethyst recoiled herself from the reaction, widening her eyes at how explicitly upset Steven was for not being told in advance. She did seem to hear how he had more issues with being unprepared than being kissed in the first place. As a result, a sly grin cemented itself on her features.

"Sorry," she apologized, letting out a few soft chuckles. The Gem cleared her throat, sitting upright and adjusting her arm around Steven. Something about it felt warmer than before, though that simply could've been the heat of Steven's face. Now a bit less hesitant, he listened intently to Amethyst's next question. "Want a do-over?"

Compared to the first offer he received, Steven was much faster to reply. That said, he still hesitated for a moment, but at least he actually got a proper answer out. He hummed a rushed confirmation, deciding to treat the situation as Amethyst did. They were just two buddies, casually… kissing. If Amethyst deemed it normal, then it was normal enough for him (despite most of his logical thought understanding something else was probably at work, given his readiness to trust Amethyst).

Now that she was given a real confirmation, Amethyst was much slower to lean towards Steven's face. It was a daunting enough sight to get Amethyst to pause, the Gem likely reading his nervousness. Her features softened. Noticing as much was easy enough when they dominated most of Steven's field of vision.

"Hey, I ain't expecting much from ya," she told him, quieter now that she was closer to his face. After a brief pause, Steven nodded, swallowing his paranoia. This was Amethyst, who routinely associated failed pranks as mild successes regardless. She spoke again softly, returning to the easing tone she had earlier. "And besides, this ain't your first kiss anymore, remember?"

That was technically true enough for Steven to take the fact with certainty. He hummed, then allowed Amethyst to continue her lean. Something about the sight was incredible enough to persuade Steven to try and lean forwards himself. Time slowed down for a moment, and he closed his eyes.

All the confidence in the world couldn't prepare for bumping his nose into hers.

Both Gems recoiled from the impact, one of which hit his head back into the wood of the bedbox he sat against.

"Sorry, sorry!" Steven fervently apologized, seeing Amethyst rub her nose with a minor groan. He raised a defensive hand out of panic, stuttering over another couple of apologies. He wasn't exactly prepared for what a readier kiss entailed, much less what could've gone wrong. His face practically burst into flames like a short-circuiting toaster from sheer embarrassment. Amethyst only laughed in response, halting the dozenth apology Steven tried to give in half as many seconds.

"You're—" she tried saying, interrupted by her own chuckling. It was a far cry from the drastically offended reaction Steven would've expected. Briefly rubbing her nose, she shook her head, doing her best to suppress her scratchy laughs. "It's fine, Steven. Practice makes perfect, n' all that junk."

Steven hesitated. "Right…" he said quietly, taking a moment to appreciate just how easy going Amethyst could be at times. She didn't seem the slightest bit put-off at Steven's inability to kiss. If anything, his brief blunder persuaded her to take a slower approach.

"Could give you some pointers, though," she told him, leaning back forwards so their noses were less than an inch or two away from each other. Thankfully, hers didn't seem bruised. Seeing the round features of his companion's face so close again threatened to speed up Steven's heart further. Her soft tone wasn't helping. "Here, turn your head just a little…"

Gently, Amethyst brought up an open palm, placing it on Steven's chin. She faintly pushed it at an angle, inciting him to tilt his head like she'd instructed. Sitting so remarkably close to her made him hesitant to move. Still, there was some combination of eagerness and trust in Amethyst that allowed him to follow her example without too much trouble. Now in a more practical position, Amethyst gave a hint of a nod out of approval. Then, like before, she closed her eyes and leaned towards Steven's face, noticeably more forwards with her mouth. He reciprocated, equally more confident and less forceful.

Their lips touched like a pair of feathers. Amethyst's hand was still on his chin, her palm as soft as the kiss she offered. It was definitely more purposeful than the lightning-fast peck she first gave Steven. Amethyst pushed herself somewhat further into Steven after a moment or two, either testing the limits on what Steven was prepared for or simply "getting into it". Her leg moved over his as the arm around his neck gradually loosened, allowing him to inch a tad closer out of his own accord. Their lips felt locked together. Then, just as Steven grew semi-accustomed to the warmth his friend's mouth offered, Amethyst let up just a fraction. She pulled away after another moment, but not before an obvious hesitation. Steven tried to not let his disappointment show too openly. He opened his eyes, straightening his neck and leaning back again.

Despite her assurance at how casual their kiss was supposed to be, Amethyst's cheeks were nearly glowing from the deepened violet in them. Her expression told a different story, albeit a vaguely surprised one. Steven stared in awe as she relaxed, her leg still over his.

"…uh," she began, thinking for a moment. Considering her first advice, Steven expected some more tips or some such on what he could improve upon. He didn't trust himself to recall their kiss accurately enough to understand his shortcomings on his own, especially given his inexperience. It all kind of… blurred together. Amethyst stared at some point on the horizon before seemingly remembering what she offered in the first place. After clearing her throat (twice), she looked back to Steven, still blushing considerably underneath the long bangs of her silver hair.

Steven waited patiently for her to say something. He was still too caught up in their kiss to ask about it directly. In front of him, the television automatically started the next episode of Under the Knife, but it was still too muted to accrue much attention. Now more than ever. Amethyst only spoke four words, as though she was still caught up in their accurately named "practice kiss".

"Well, that was… good."

That wasn't the assessment Steven was expecting. After a brief delay, Amethyst seemed to realize her words, clearing her throat a third time in an attempt to sound a bit more professional. She had as much success with faking professionalism as Steven did with faking seriousness.

"I mean," she began, now somehow appearing nervous regardless of her efforts. She was supposed to be the confident one, if only due to her own experience. "I ain't lying or anything, it really wasn't bad for your second kiss ever. Just…"

She paused. "…definitely not what I was expecting."

Steven paused himself, still unsure how to take the description. Amethyst's tone made it seem like a compliment, but being too wary of his own inexperience left Steven feeling like he could do better. Something about the prospect of practice encouraged his eagerness, in a way. As though he was now trying to impress Amethyst more than anything else. Steven thought to make the correction that he'd be trying to impress anyone he decided to share a kiss with, but right now, the clarification was redundant.

"Is that, uh..." he started out slowly, watching Amethyst's features. The Gem seemed lost in her own thought. "Is that a good thing?"

There was a hefty delay before Amethyst seemed to hear him. After another moment of thought, she shook her head, likely trying to phrase herself better. The subtle surprise left her expression over the next few seconds, as did the intensity of her blush. Part of it lingered, though, as subtle as the bewilderment she had following their technically second kiss.

"Yeah," she answered Steven, looking back to him. Her eyes seemed brighter than usual, like they were recently invigorated by a good nap or successful mission. They matched her tone perfectly. "I'd say that's a real good thing."

After a brief smile, Amethyst attempted to backpedal on her voice, probably noticing how awestruck she was. Steven's curious expression hastened her retreat. While more than proud at Amethyst's assurance, he still wasn't that informed on what exactly he ought to focus on in terms of kissing. It took another second or two for his companion to recall that was supposed to be their primary reason for even locking lips in the first place.

"Like, I was right about the candle-light thing," she described, now leveling her voice. She was still nearly on top of Steven, either not noticing or caring enough to move back to a normal sitting position. "More… passionate than intense, y'know? You get into it without really pushin' it."

Steven nodded, both proud and relieved. Even as far as practice kisses go, Amethyst sounded impressed by his performance. That was an especially good thing when Steven noted he acted more out of instinct than active thought. Amethyst, after moving just a fraction back towards her original position next to Steven, let out a small chuckle.

"Honestly, that's the best kinda kisser," she added, moving a couple more bangs of hair from her face. Steven didn't exactly stiffen at being called "the best kind of kisser", but his eyebrows did elevate themselves in surprise. That was definitely a title to be proud of, and it being granted by someone as close as Amethyst only made him feel better. Somehow, his earlier apprehension now seemed nonsensical over the span of a few minutes. Amethyst noticed as much. "Dunno why you were so nervous about it. You're dang near perfect, man, right outta the gate."

"Wow," Steven let out, his eyebrows still elevated. More than pride, he felt an odd sense of accomplishment at being called almost perfect, like most of his experiences with Amethyst led up to this level of ease they could share together. Two best friends sharing an enjoyable moment together without all the awkwardness or complications kissing brings with it. Steven found himself smiling, though still had another question to ask his experienced companion.

"Is there a way I can get better?"

The exact way he asked was difficult to pin down. Part of his tone was genuinely curious, but some of his pride lingered, making Steven's question sound particularly knowing. His voice mimicked how Amethyst had "asked" about his kissing anxieties earlier. Amethyst seemed able to read as much, a coy smile returning to her expression over the next few seconds. She didn't move away from Steven despite her extreme proximity, her face still just a handful of inches from his. She answered in her own Amethyst-y way, with a grin of her own and a comically low tone.

"Lemme check again," she told Steven, purposefully pushing her forehead to his. It was more like she laid her head forwards rather than pressed against him. Steven, though surprised at the contact, could tell her movement was to make sure of his permission. She wasn't about to put her lips to his without a confirmation on his end. Needless to say, tilting his head again was all the confirmation Amethyst needed.

Just like before, the Gem's soft lips fell against his, somehow even gentler than the first (or technically second) time. Steven felt an odd combination of sensations as he returned the kiss; he definitely felt more aware than in their first real kiss, but he also felt just as impulsive. In a good sense, at least. The matching warmth of Amethyst's mouth sped up his heart again. Tentatively, Steven felt himself slowly raise a hand to Amethyst's cheek. She didn't react to his subtle grasp pulling her just a hair closer, either too busy with locking their lips together or simply allowing Steven to move out of his own accord. Her own hands steadily laid themselves around to his back, her arms becoming hooked around him. There was a definite gentleness in how she moved.

Then, like they were waking up from a pleasant dream, each Gem pulled away again. Steven wasn't as dissatisfied as he was when their first proper kiss ended, though some part of him still wanted to continue sharing the moment with Amethyst. More out of earnest eagerness than feeling unfinished this time around. Amethyst was even slower to move from Steven, leaving her arms around his neck. She wasn't necessarily awestruck, but there was some kind of sparkle in her eyes Steven could only match to the same light earlier. Being lucky enough to cause the shine was more than a proud achievement to him. Amethyst made no effort to hide her obvious enjoyment as she spoke.

"Yeah," she said, quietly. Steven noticed his hand was still on her cheek after a considerable delay, and moved his palm away with a slightly darker blush. "I… really dunno what you can do better, Steven. You're just… the best."

Abruptly, Amethyst coughed, though still didn't move from Steven. "At, uh, kissin', I mean."

Among all the things Steven had the good fortune of feeling, from the pride of impressing his best friend to the incredible sensation Amethyst's lips had left on his, disappointment wasn't something he expected. Surely having his anxieties about kissing removed so positively was a good thing. It was what Steven said next that made him realize why already running out of advice for kissing was a bad thing.

"So does this mean we don't have to practice kissing anymore?" he heard himself ask, like a child running out of chores to make their parents proud about. His eyebrows furrowed in a grimace. "Already?"

Amethyst laughed in nearly the same second as his discouragement. Under normal circumstances, Steven would've been far more hesitant to so obviously show how upset he was at being unable to kiss his best friend. Their current situation was definitely an exception. Amethyst shook her head, apparently thinking otherwise to what Steven was worried about.

"Nah," she answered casually. The Gem shifted a little, sitting more comfortably in front of Steven and blocking part of the television with her hair. Her expression became familiarly akin to one of a fox. "Never said you were perfect. Just real darn close."

The intended message took a while to sink in to Steven's brain. He perked up like an excited pup the moment he understood Amethyst's phrasing.

"And practice makes perfect, right?" he connected the dots. Amethyst simply nodded, her grin widening. Steven's own smile expanded.

A/N: I really want to know what you think. Seriously. I'll admit it, part of the reason that I take so long to update these is that I don't often assume people notice or are particularly expectant of new chapters. And at the same time, I hate requesting reviews because it makes me feel like a dumb glory-hound who equates numbers with success or a job-well-done when I know that isn't the case. Part of the reason I took down the last chapter was because I honestly thought no one would notice. But here we are, heh.

I do appreciate you taking time to read the stuff my sleep-deprived brain comes up with in the wee hours of dawn. As always, have a great day! :D