"You are terrifying, Ry, and I am officially unsure how to act towards you," Steven joked.

Ryder smirked, "I serve to please."

The two burst out laughing as they arrived back at the Lookout, ready to turn in for the night. It had been a few days since Steven had arrived, and it felt like they were getting along with each other just fine. He was actually starting to get a crush on the fair-skinned male, whose laugh was so pure and happy with the pups he nearly cried in front of them. While Ryder still refused to divulge stories on his past, Steven had begun to piece the story together. Wearing long sleeves everywhere he went meant he was hiding something on his skin. Something that he didn't want others to see. Abuse, physical and emotional. It would explain a lot.

Mayor Humdinger was a likely suspect for this. Ryder flinched often around him, though Steven only noticed because of his crush, and even then it was quite subtle. Anyone who didn't look close enough would think that he was just uncomfortable, but Steven knew better. He could guess that perhaps Ryder was his son, yet he hadn't met the mother yet. It was probably no one good, according to Ryder's sad smiles when he brought up Pearl or Garnet.

"Hey, Steve? You okay?"

He snapped out of it, and smiled, "Yeah, I am. Just got... stuck in my mind."

"What's in there?" Ryder asked.

"I'm a bit embarrassed about it," he admitted.

"Don't be!" he laughed. "It's nothing. We're friends, after all."

"I guess you have a point," Steven laughed sheepishly. "But anyway, I was just wondering how you were allowed to do all this despite starting off at such a young age."

"Well, determination goes a long way," Ryder winked. "But you also know that perseverance and mental stability helps too."

"You have a point," he chuckled quietly. "You have a lot of people backing you, Ry. Honestly, growing up, my family worshiped my mom."

"They're crazy then," Ryder frowned. "You're amazing, Steve. Anyone who says otherwise will make me unhappy."

He blinked and his face went red, "T-Thanks."

Ryder flushed as well, "N-No problem. A-Anyway, we should rest up. Tomorrow is bound to be tiring as well."

He nodded, jogging back to the Lookout. Time to get some rest too.

The two quickly separated ways, with Steven heading downwards while Ryder went to his room.

In his room, Ryder freshened up and put on his usual sleepwear, yawning slightly as he laid on the bed. He had forgotten how nice it was to have someone like Steven around. Sure he had friends his age like Katie and Carlos, but Steven was different. He was kind, and had struggled with his mental health too. They had scars and they shared some sort of kindred soul bond. It was weird, to say the least.

He smiled. Maybe, if this was in a different world, a different life, a better one... Maybe he would have confessed to Steven.

Sadly, life was never that kind.

If they found out about this development, Steven would be punched and hurt so badly in the physical and emotional sector his old bruises would just open up again. He refused to let someone insignificant like him hold Steven back. He... he didn't deserve such a beautiful light.

He sighed, and closed his eyes, allowing his soul to float away...

"You're useless! A waste of space! I wish you had never been born! You've only caused us misery you piece of trash!"

"Just die! You just take up space you don't deserve! You even act so high and mighty!"

"MAYBE IT'S TIME WE REMIND YOU OF YOUR PLACE BY KILLING YOUR CRUSH!"

His eyes shot open, and he gasped as he sat up abruptly, only to get a pounding headache as a gift.

He cursed, but got out of bed to head to the bathroom. As he opened the lights, he sighed and took off his long-sleeved pajama shirt to change it with something shorter, revealing horribly discoloured skin underneath the shirt he wore all the time. They were all over the place, and they looked so horrible it was a wonder he was able to stand.

He looked up to the mirror, and saw a fractured fleshbag with no purpose in mind.

"I... I can't fall in love," he finally said, and walked back to bed, even though his heart hurt so so much.

As he lay on bed, though, the necklace he had found began to glow, and he blinked as he got up once more to check it out. The purple gem was brightening up the room, all right.

His hands touched it again. He had managed to figure out how to utilise it. It had shapeshifting skills and immense power, and while it had taken a while to train his mind to shapeshift it, he was happy to proclaim he had the hang of it.

"Huh, what's going on?" he asked himself.

Then his phone rang with a new mission for the team in Barkingburg.

Well, it was time to pack his bags for an overnight trip, as they usually did in Mission PAW operations. He would have to leave the mystery of this weird weapon for later. Also, he had an anniversary to celebrate.

He sighed and got up, walking to get his bags, unaware of the malicious presence following him.

"That's him, isn't it Robotstein?"

"Indeed it is, Octonaus Chagwanim."

"Very well. It's time for us to make our move. You know what to do."

"Yes, Octonaus Chagwanim."

In a hotel located in the Bay, a pair of brilliant aquamarine eyes shot open, and their owner sprung up from the bed she had been lying on, hastily slipping on slippers before running to the room on the opposite of the floor. The details of the conversation she had overheard in her dream flooded her and filled her with a sense of alarm worse than anything had before.

Some rapid knocks later, a tuft of brown hair opened the door to reveal her friend, "Rosie, what's wrong—"

"Taeyang, I feel it! I don't know how I hadn't felt it before, but Galaxy Weapon 6 has been claimed! And its owner... Its owner is in danger! They know it's been claimed!"

"WHAT?! Then we need to call Pilseung!"

"Hurry! Demonseu has already begun his move!"

Indeed, the strongest weapon in the galaxy has chosen its user for the first time since its creation; a teenager who was traumatised and struggling.

A teenager very, VERY prone to falling into darkness; the perfect puppet for a powerhungry alien.