Today, Steven was in an excellent mood.

He picked Connie up and twirled her around, finishing off with a big kiss. "Let's go to the movies, Berry."

She squished his cheeks. "But studying."

"But attention." He put on an imploring face and she grimaced.

"Damn it, you're still just as cute as baby Steven. Put me down."

"He prefers to be called Pre-Traumatized Steven," He corrected emphatically.

Connie grabbed her purse and snorted. "I promise you he would've become even nosier than he already was if we called him that."

They took their time walking toward the boardwalk. The sun was shining, the ocean was calm and everything was cozy and warm.

"What movie are we going to see?" Connie finally asked.

Steven opened his mouth to answer but froze. "I did not think that far ahead."

She threw her head back and laughed. It was the sweetest thing he'd ever heard. "Of course you didn't, I'll pull out my phone and see what's playing."

He felt it before it even happened.

"Hey, baby. Still hanging out with this loser?"

Her head snapped up and she spun around.

Standing before them was quite possibly the skeeziest, most vain person they had ever had the displeasure of meeting. "You know, Kevin, I'll never forget the first time we met, but I keep hoping I might every day."

Steven pulled out his phone and glanced at the time. 12:44 pm.

He bared his teeth and completely ignored her comment. "I wish I could say I'm surprised you remembered my name, but I'm just so memorable." He winked at her and she scoffed.

"No, thank you Kevin. Go find someone else to irritate." She had been aiming to be nice, but she couldn't stand him.

"You had such a glow up. The nerdy little bookworm grew up into a smoke show." He licked his lips and gestured to himself. "Pretty girls like you need pretty boys like me."

She scowled in repulsion. "That's disgusting, Kevin. I have an incredible boyfriend already. I don't need nor want your attention."

He smiled dazzlingly. "Come on, everybody wants Kevin's attention."

"Well, time for a wake up call. I'd rather get a lobotomy." She flashed him a fake smile.

"I can give you something just as good if you're looking to forget for awhile," He offered suavely.

12:46 pm. Steven broadened his shoulders and clenched his fists. "Kevin, you need to leave," He warned lowly.

He laughed and tossed his hair. "Or what? Are you gonna turn into a monster again?"

He grunted like he'd been punched in the stomach. "Leave us alone. Last warning ."

"Steven–," Connie had been about to try to get him to back down but Kevin cut her off.

"He's so docile, babygirl. You need a real man people won't mess with." He started for her but then a flash of light briefly blinded him.

Diamond and Star both blocked his way with looks that could kill.

Kevin stumbled back but caught himself and turned up his nose. "What, you think just because you can– clone yourself that I'm scared of you?"

"I'm sorry, Connie," Diamond muttered, stepping to Kevin. He grabbed a bunch of his shirt and lifted him until he was dangling three inches above the ground. His eyes were cold and dangerous as he peered down at the man trying to pry his fingers back.

"P-put me down you freak!"

Diamond considered this. "Are you going to keep hitting on our girlfriend, or do I need to give you a minute to pick a god pray?"

Star wrapped a protective arm around a speechless Connie. "Personally I think you should break his hands for even entertaining the thought of touching her," He supplied.

She looked up at her sweet, friendly, soft Star. There was none of that now, she had never seen him so supremely and ferally pissed off.

Kevin gulped and squirmed, but Diamonds grip was steel and he wasn't loosening it. "If you break my hands, I'll call the police."

"Go home." Diamond dropped him and he landed smack on his ass onto the concrete. "Or I'll take Stars advice." He squatted down to his level. "We're not afraid of the police, Kevin."

He glanced between the two and rolled his eyes, but the action was quick enough that he didn't take his eyes off of them for too long.

"Are you deaf?" Star sneered. "Run."

Kevin scrambled up and limped away, calling them both freaks again.

The trio watched him leave silently. It felt like they were frozen there for eternity before Connie stormed off toward the house. "You two, family meeting. Now."

They glanced at each other and followed behind her.

The two listened to Connie lay them straight about being able to protect herself for fifteen minutes.

"You two act like I can't speak for myself! I am a grown woman perfectly capable of telling someone to fuck off! Do I look like I was born yesterday to you?!" She had been pacing in front of them angrily but stopped when they didn't answer. "Well?"

"We're sorry," Diamond replied.

"Well you don't look very sorry! Stars, why on earth do you look so bored right now?" She growled at their relaxed expressions and body language. "It's like trying to talk to two cats! You never listen to me and you're both just so protective of me it's like I can't even go outside without one of you saying something and to grab me like that as if you're keeping me away from conflict is absolutely absurd, I have a sword! I'm trained in martial arts and–!"

"We gave you three minutes," Diamond countered. "And after that, no one told you not to speak."

"Personally, I think you're not entirely mad at us," Star admitted.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as they fused. Steven was careful to keep his expression neutral as he stood and grabbed her hips.

"What? I'm mad at you right now."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you? Or are you mad that your protective boyfriends showed force and it flustered you so badly that you decided to be mad about it?"

She sputtered a few times and glared to the side.

"Connie," He murmured, brushing his lips over her cheek. "I am sorry. I know you're more than capable of protecting yourself. But Diamond is possessive and Star is passionate. How did you want it to go?" A corner of his lip upturned knowingly. "For future reference."

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out for a moment. "I- I don't know."

"You are my girlfriend." His fingers dug into her harder. "Our girlfriend. Whatever. When a guy like Kevin so much as fantasizes about what your perfume smells like, it's all testosterone driven behavior." He glanced down into her top.

"Don't you dare," She demanded.

"I wasn't going to say anything about what you're wearing, I was enjoying the view," He replied, doing it again.

She sighed. "Why are you so calm?"

"Protective boyfriend Steven is calm because he likes being at home without people trying to steal you from him." He chuckled and tipped his head to the side. "Why is your face turning so red?"

"You threatened to break his hands!" She exclaimed.

He shrugged. "Oops."

"You could've gotten arrested."

"Not before we broke his hands I wouldn'tve." She frowned and he let his head fall back. "Look. It won't happen again. But he was being relentless. A show of numbers and strength is the only way to talk to a guy like that."

"I suppose that can be true." She felt herself starting to flush harder, so she rested her cheek against him. She'd seen Steven act similarly toward Kevin, but to unfuse just to protect her made her feel like a damsel. Or like one of the girls in the stories she tried to avoid, but every once in awhile craved. Her Steven, her Star and Diamond, weren't violent or mean spirited people. But the coordination had made her breathless and confused. She wasn't used to this feeling, she wondered wryly if she should buy a fainting couch and a fan too. "Men are animals."

He picked her up and wrapped her legs around him. "Tell me about it. We're going to go cuddle in bed until I'm not so... tense."