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Chapter 5
Face to Face 
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The mutant looking creature had random body parts sticking out here and there, but it did take a shape of a down giant hound. It also seemed a tiny bit odd that it had cams out of nowhere after this long.

"Oh no. I thought I bubbled all the mutated fusion gems." Steven brings up his pink shield and glances at Spinel. "Spinel help everyone get to a safe place."

"But what about you?" Spinel questioned, knowing that Steven needed help fighting with something this big.

The mutant gem starts crushing anything in it's way and throws a food stand at the running crowd. At this action, Spinel quickly stretches and catches it while placing it down. With Garnet's future vision being blocked, there was no way the other could have known this would happen, maybe it would've been easier if Lion hadn't left.

"Don't worry, I'll call Pearl and the others." Steven takes our his phone, but gets hit by one of the hands from the mutant and it made him fly far near the shoreline. 

"STEVEN!" Spinel panics and now takes out her phone when she's thrown into the doors of the Beach City Visitor Center. She groans and realizes she dropped the communication device. Except that wasn't what made Spinel go wide eyed. 'Oh no.'

The female human, who her and Steven tried to get ice cream for, rushed to Spinel's phone and the mutant gem has its sights set on her. It screeched and charged. By taking off to avoid the monster, you have gained more of it's interest, especially being the only person moving in the area. 

Maybe diving under one of the many patio tables scattered across the beach wasn't a good idea, but whoever the two were trying to call had to be help. 

A giant shadow loomed over the table and slowly you peak out to look up at the mutant gem in fright. 

Something coiled around your stomach until it tightened gently, tugging you out from under the table before you hear the wood break from the monster's fists. 

The pink hearted gem is growling and feels her old anger rise up a little, "HEY BOZO! You wanna play that game?! Well lucky for you-" Spinel didn't want to use her new weapon, but nonetheless, her clothes change as she pulls it out from her gem as it formed into a scythe. "-I know how to play!!!" 

You watch in amazement as the pink gem jumps into the air and spins down like a saw with the scythe. The weapon slices through the mutated gem and it poofs, leaving many gem shards on the sand. 

Spinel pants heavily and takes a glance at the weapon before turning it off, tossing it to the side. The shards are picked up and she stares at the glittering sharp gems in the sunlight. Steven had to do this bubbling, though she can see he's still trying to recover. "How do I even bubble this thing?" Making bubbles to juggles doesn't necessarily count as bubbling things, especially gems. Spinel tries to make a bubble around it but the bubble ends up pushing the shards to the ground. "Oh come on." Spinel strains to make a bubble form around it, but it kept popping. 

The shards start to glow and float up. 

"Uh oh." Spinel flinches as the monster returns and stand right in front of her. Face to face. "Heyyyy." Spinel says sheepishly. 

A familiar baton is thrown from somewhere behind Spinel and hits the monster in the head. Having no damage, but it annoyed the mutant greatly. 

You gulp and run once the attention is on you again. 

It roars and starts to take off, but pink arms wrap around it to keep it restrained. The mutant starts to buck everywhere and Spinel is being flung in the air as she tries to keep hold. 

"Whaaoooo! Cut it out ya big-" 

Two of the hands on the monster grabbed her pigtails and slams her off the side. It roars and goes to stomp on her, but a pink shield gets in the way. 

"Sorry, Spinel. I kinda lost consciousness for a few minutes." Steven grunts when the creatures keeps slamming down on the shield, causing the two to be buried more in the sand. 

Finally it stopped and sniffs around before running in a direction, which also happens to be the way you ran. From afar, Spinel could barely see your form still trying to run, but the sand was making it hard. 

"Stupid sand." You pant and still ran as best as you can, until you're picked up by the ankle and hung upside down in front of the mutant gem. It's mouth open wide and you cover your face with your arms to keep from looking. 

"Spinel, throw me!" Steven forms a pink ball around himself and Spinel follows his order, launching him at the mutant. Steven makes spikes on the ball and crashes into the side of the monster.

The rough sand made you lose your breath when you're dropped from a few feet up. 

"Sorry!" Steven apologies then yells when he's batted to the ocean. "Not again!" The pink ball skips a few times and drops Steven underwater. 

'After I almost make a new friend on my own, this bozo shows up and ruined it!' Spinel glares and turns her body into a spring and shoots off to again land on the monster. "Listen up, ya big uncultured swine! You're ruining everyone's day, so take a HIT-" 

The mutant gem suddenly changed forms and now looks like a giant person with many arms. It grabs Spinel and throws her far in a random direction before turning to look down at you. Unfortunately, you didn't move when it had been distracted. 

"Get off me!" You struggle to get free from one of it's giant hands. 

Spinel flew through the air, only to spin herself to land in the sand upright and sliding back. Her hair had grown a little longer and she glares with a growl.

The right of her hand growing in size while clenching it tightly. "That's. IT." Spinel throws her fist out and grabs the giant mutant, bringing it closer to her before crushing it like a bug. "I'm not playing anymore." 

You panic as it poofs and you're falling from higher up. Until you feel like you're spiraling down a slide and your body stopping against something soft. Though something warm just cool leaning against your cheek. You open your eyes to see an inverted crystal heart. Or a gem. You stare at it.

Spinel looks down at your quiet state and noticed a distant stare in your (e/c) eyes. She grew worried and hoped that this incident didn't mess up your meeting with her. Spinel open her mouth only for Pearl's voice to call out. 

"Oh my GOSH! What happened?!" Pearl screeched in great concern. 

Garnet rushes over to where they saw the mutant gem get poofed, quickly bubbling the shards. "Got it." 

Steven hovered out of the water, still in his bubble and floats over to the now crowded group. He nearly falls back when Connie tackles him into a hug. "Steven! What happened!? You didn't get hurt too bad, did you?" 

Spinel didn't pay much attention to Steven as he began to explain what happened to the Crystal Gems because her focus was on you. Gently, she places you on your feet then bites her lip. "A...um….weird day, right?" Spinel coughs awkwardly then changes back to her human like clothes to zip up her hoodie. 

You shrug and take a glimpse at the ocean. 

Spinel gulps yet again and moves her gaze off toward the boardwalk, her finger anxiously twirling a strand of hair from her pigtail. 

Steven caught the situation between you two and walks over since everyone was speaking to each other about what happened. "Hey. I'm so sorry about all of this." 

You turn to him and give him a silent answer to continue. 

"I hope it didn't ruin the chance of getting you an ice cream." Steven sugar coats it, "My friends and I probably have to fix the boardwalk mess, so…..maybe Spinel here can take you to pick a homemade ice cream from my house." Steven pulls Spinel in front of you.

The gem's eyes widen and she grins awkwardly again then gives a look to Steven as he holds back an amused smile. "If y-ya want. You don't have'ta-"

"I don't mind." You finally give them a closed lip smile. 

Mentally, Spinel can see herself shaking Steven for leaving her alone with the human girl. Not that she didn't want to be with her, Spinel just didn't know how to start a conversation with someone suddenly new.

~°♡°~

At Steven's house, Spinel greeted Greg as he waves from inside his van while he played his guitar. You had been silently following the gem inside and take a seat on the couch. 

Spinel goes to a small freezer with a black cat head and takes out two small plastic bags. 'I hope this is what Steven was talking about.' 

Cookie Cat Ice Cream. These weren't made anymore, but Steven took the liberty of making his own. It had been a great honor for Steven to simply say that someone could take a cookie cat. He was quite stingy with the ice cream treat.

You take the ice cream when it's handed to you and you raise a brow in slight amusement at the cat head shaped treat. 

Spinel takes a seat next to you though criss crossing her legs on the couch before opening the ice cream cookie. 'I hope these are good.' Her magenta eyes glance at you and watches as you take a bite from the ice cream. The way your face brightens up a little made her chest swell in happiness again. 

Neapolitan ice cream was okay and the chocolate cookie made it taste better. So the Cookie Cat Ice Cream tasted alright to you. 

Spinel bites into the treat and she perks up at the many good flavors. The ice cream eaten in one go. 

You notice her reaction and giggle faintly. 

A blush appears lightly on the gem's face and she feels better. "What's your name? I'm sorry I didn't ask earlier. I tend to get over excited about stuff." 

There was this quite unique and likeable accent as Spinel talked and if you had to be honest, it was very beguiling to her possibly animated personality. 'It might not be so bad in befriending her.' "(Y/n)." 

"Spinel. A pleasure to meet you." Spinel comically bows, earning cheerful chuckle from you and she laughs lightly. 

The screen door of the Universe residence opens and Steven walks in, "Hey! The others got the mess covered and I thought I'd swing by to, you know, get to properly meet you." He says mainly to you and takes a seat on the floor by Spinel. 

Spinel frowns and rolls her eyes with a smirk, "Or are you here because you didn't trust us with your Cookie Cat? Amethyst told me how you're quite stingy with it." 

You take another bite.

"Eeeh….possibly." Steven chuckles. "I'm going to guess you're new to Beach City? Do you maybe live around here?"

"Not exactly. I'm more of a Voyager. Here and there, not really staying in one place for long." You finish up the ice cream before it melted. 

Spinel tilts her head, "I know humans have parents that always stay with them. Do they worry about you?" It was an innocent question, but Spinel felt a little bad when your mood shifted slightly. 

"They didn't really care much, but…" A sentimental smile makes its way to your face, "My older cousin Rebecca was always there. Acting more like a fun aunt though." 

It grew to a silent atmosphere now, so Spinel decided to break it. Still wondering about that day you ran into her. "What were you running from the other day?" 

Your peeved expression caused the two to grow confused and you lean back while pinching the bridge of your nose. "I'm really sorry I ran into you like that Spinel. But when I first came to Beach City, there's this kid that keeps following me around. Ugh, it's very annoying and a tinsy bit creepy." 

Steven hums, "Do you know what they look like?"

You think about it, "It might sound really stupid, but this kid had a head that looked like an onion." 

Spinel had no clue at all and she had this dopey confused look. 

Steven just laughed, "Oh! Okay. There's nothing to worry about. That's Onion. He tends to be weird. In a good way."

"Okay….. Still, I don't like it when he's staring without emotion at me." You flinch a little when Steven pats your knee.

"You'll be fine. That's the way Onion is half of the time, though watch your wallet or whatever you have on you." Steven reassures and warns. "Anyway! I should check up on the others and get back to Connie. You can take it from here, Spinel." 

You and Spinel watch him march out the door. 

"He's quite weird himself. Ain't he?" You say and caused Spinel to snort. 

"I guess that's Steven for ya." Spinel comments. 

"How long do you think that he'll realize he forgot to ask for my name?" You glance at Spinel in amusement. 

"Not for long. I'm sure it'll be at a random time." Spinel takes out her phone when it vibrates and she rolls her eyes at Steven's message. She types your name and sends it. 

"You were really amazing out there. You know fighting that monster." Of course, it amazed you though it did make you feel mixed emotions about the weapon. It was sharp. "I've never seen a Spinel have a weapon and quite skilled at it." 

Spinel looks up at you, feeling flustered at the compliment. "Th-thanks. I'm just doing what I can to help protect everyone." She laughs shyly. 

'Wait.' Spinel's thoughts halt and she stares at you. 'What did she say?'

Greg came in before Spinel went to say something. "Hi! I couldn't help but be a curious guy. Are you a new friend to the Crystal Gems?" 

You grin sheepishly at him and glance at Spinel for help. She just gives you the same look and shrugs.