Steven smiled at the cameras and host as he tried to look non threatening. This interview was everything for his bandmates, even if he wasn't technically in the band anymore to work on his show. People were excited to see an appearance after so long of silence. "What are my band mates' vocal styles?" He raised his eyebrows and thought hard.

He'd never sat down and thought about it, but the answers were still obvious to him. "Well, Hazel is a natural born Jazz vocalist but he prefers rap, and it's a close second. His voice is bass ranged but it's incredibly smooth and warm, I haven't heard any artists that come close to how he sings when he thinks he's alone. My Connie is a very strong lyric soprano." He blushed involuntarily, embarrassed more when the audience cooed at him. "I wish she would sing for me more, she's a real life song bird with a range that compares to Moriah Carey." Ignoring the aw's, he carried on before he accidentally made his wife look mean on live television. "Anna and Jasmin have the kinds of voices that are cast in lead roles in musicals. So I'd say dramatic alto for both, but Anna is also really good with whistle tones. She once came crying to me that she was worried she'd never be able to sing high notes and now her highest is a high C, which can shatter glass. Her voice is more dreamy, whereas Jasmin has that roar to some of her best songs. I break out in a sweat at the sheer amount of power she holds, I'm actually really excited to explore pushing their voices to their exact limits in this series of albums. Let's see, uh... Jacob..." He blew out a breath of laughter like even saying his name was spiritual to him. "Calling him a countertenor feels insulting because there has to be a word for exactly what he can do with no effort, and then what he can do with all his effort."

The host, Kelsey Keys, smiled at him broadly. "We know you've been teasing an album for some of the band members for quite some time, are we going to witness this extraordinary talent?"

He nodded heavily, thankful he was allowed to give the official announcement instead of tip toe around the topic. "Yes, we've got really amazing albums coming out, but they're mostly for us to see how far we've come. But back on topic," He didn't wanna reveal too much, "Jacob is a mixed voice. He can switch from head to chest voice flawlessly and keep the strength. He can get as low as bass easily before he hates doing it so I don't even know his full range. I want them all to have fun so I don't make them do things they don't want to do for quality assurance." He glanced out into the audience to spot the one person he hadn't mentioned because he was nervous to. "And last but possibly my favorite vocal type, our resident crooner who doesn't know he's a crooner."

Kelsey tipped her head in confusion. "A what?"

Steven sucked in a breath. He was either going to get dumped, start a fight, or maybe even embarrass his partner but he had to share it. "Well... Every crooner of these days is a complete phony or not a classic crooner. That's not to say pop crooners or anything are bad, but a real big band/jazz crooner is hard to find. A crooner has an intimate tone as their baseline, not when they're trying super hard." He shut his eyes. "I can't describe it, but I can... show you." He could feel Adam staring at him and he felt so guilty he glowed. "I mean, I could. But I don't think I should."

Kelsey and her audience begged him relentlessly. He wanted to just go ahead and do it anyways but he had to respect his partner regardless. He couldn't go through with it.

Until a light flashed in the audience and Adam used his loud voice to shout, "Just rip off the bandaid! We'll talk later!"

Despite how scared he was to talk later, he scrambled to pull out his phone and airdrop the favorited video to Kelsey so she could play it on the big screen.

And there Steven's Pride and Joy was: sitting on the porch bannister enjoying the nippy winter air with a smile and a tank top on. So far no one had clocked that they had powers, just that their glow was real. That was okay for now. He wasn't even muttering, he was singing loud enough for Steven's phone to pick it up as he snuck closer.

The deepness of it stole his breath away all over again. Before the moment recorded he'd never heard Adam sing like this, but he could tell it was easy for him. Steven filled with desire at the sound of his natural singing voice, he filled with lust and awe. It was so strong he had to let his hair down. It met his hips now but it kept him warm from the cold that he felt washing over him when Adam spun a song of love and undying lust for what felt like was just for him. "Another bride, another June
Another sunny, honeymoon
Another season, another reason
For makin' whoopee..."

The audience cheered and girls far and wide could be heard fangirling over the honey in his voice. The vibrato pattern was admittedly feminine, but the rich baritone octave was distinctly masculine in a way that it just gave him that something special.
"A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous, he answers, twice
Its really killin' that he's so
Willin' to make whoopee."

Steven cut it off there because then he'd gone quiet and thoughtful, and it felt even more disrespectful to record that. He enjoyed the way Adam decided to pause in front of certain words that were his creative choices compared to the original. He wanted to play it all over again. "I've rarely heard anything like it within the 21st century. Except maybe Micheal Bublé but his is more sustained. I like this better, it's more sure and less like a whisper."

Kelsey fanned her face. "And you're telling me this guy used to freestyle almost all of his songs?"

Steven nodded. "We all do, and we're planning on incorporating all of our favorite elements. It's going to be so... human."

*

When he got backstage and was finally done talking them all up again, Adam wouldn't meet his eye. He didn't give off vibes like he was mad, but his body language said maybe he was possibly in his head.

Connie poked his chest coyly, giggling when he tried to bite and pull it into his mouth. "Maybe you should write one song for each of our albums next."

They latched onto that and yammered about it the whole way home, but Steven couldn't focus too hard with Adam gripping the steering wheel the entire time. The second they got home, he grunted, "Well... get out."

Hazel laughed and kissed his cheek as the rest piled out but Adam cleared his throat. "Not you, Steven."

Oh stars. This must be how kids feel when they know they're in trouble, like going to the principals office or coming home with a bad report card. "I'm sorry."

Adam unbuckled his seat and climbed into the back with him to sit on his lap. "I'm bad at saying thank you," He stated, leaning in to kiss him with surprising nervousness. Steven had to take charge and lead. "I... You made me feel... something. I-I don't know the word." He made an uncomfortable face like he did when he was overstimulated or stuck. "I wanna follow you around everywhere you go?"

Steven's face split with a huge grin and he kissed him again with passion, pinning him against the back of the seat in front of him. "You can. Sleep in my bed with me. Sit on my shoulders while I make you and Connie breakfast." They kissed slower this time to really feel each other, Adam moaned into his mouth and he returned it. "Would you show me what you hide from me?" He begged against his lips. Suddenly he was drunk; drunk on Adam huffing softly and clinging to him. It aroused his heart, which made no sense but he enjoyed feeling overcome so richly. "Would you try just for me?"

Adam nodded through a quiet groan. "Yes. You made me feel so warm inside." He nudged his head aside and he thought he was going to bite him but instead he inhaled his scent. "I wanna climb inside of you."

If any other person had said that he'd have laughed or possibly given them a weirded out look but Adam was just expressing his softness the best way he could. He wanted Steven with zero intention, only to be close and ride out whatever feeling he gave him at loving his natural singing voice.

Connie was more than thrilled to have soft Adam around the house when she was there. He was, deep, deep, deep, deep, deeeeeep down a service bottom. He took a massive load off of their shoulders tidying up things and washing the floors that hadn't been more than swept since Celeste moved out.

He wanted to do their dishes, he wanted to wash, dry and fold their laundry. She caught him kissing each garment before he folded it and her knees gave out to slide down the wall. Whatever he was feeling was taking over his entire personality. He was dripping with love so much she was surprised her giant husband hadn't slipped on a puddle of it on the floor and cracked his head clean open.

Steven tried to offer help while insisting Connie take time off of and relax. He found himself following Adam constantly, if not physically then in his mind. At night Adam laid on top of him with a quiet sound of content and passed out immediately. That was, much like his eldest son's, his most apparent sign of trust.

It peaked when it became obvious he was overstimulated, but emotionally.

He never blew up or even really acted that way, but Steven could see it in his eyes so clearly he pulled him aside after he came from a date with Hazel. "You're wearing my hoodie." His eyes drifted lower. "And nothing else."

It was massive on him. It reached so far down it nearly touched his knees, knees that were bent just a bit to make himself even smaller because he was feeling so very shy. "M'sorry. I just... missed you. I'm sorry for being clingy."

"All this for a compliment?" He chuckled in amusement, pushing his hand to thread into his hair. His head turned into the warm touch and his eyes moved to Steven's to stare. "You're such a sweetheart. Come to bed."

He'd expected Adam to get needy being in a bed (because he almost always did) but he started kissing at his forehead and down the bridge of his nose. His breath stuttered for a second as he moved to his cheeks and jaw, and then down his jaw to his neck and shoulders.

There were no nibbles or licks. Adam knew Steven didn't need that to get him going. He kissed all over his torso with a pause in between each one. He was so careful to avoid his gem but by then, the hybrid was so emotionally ruined by this man he whispered, "You can kiss anywhere you want."

He felt it instantly: a warm breath that was unfamiliar in its pattern against his gem. He tensed without thinking; anticipating, fearing, needing him to just do it. What if he was put off by it? What if it was horrifying but he kept it to himself to spare his feelings? He spiraled until his glow was almost gone.

Intensity. A blinding light. Orgasmic love released his tension enough for him to moan and grab his head to get him to deepen the kiss against the biggest facet. His lips were different from Connie's... He couldn't describe the kiss as anything but understanding. Unconditional was the only similarity between the two. It was how he felt Adam smile against his diamond that he knew for sure he loved him unconditionally and would never stop.

Steven cried into his hand, a hand Adam had drowned in kisses earlier, and muffled his cries of ecstasy. Things got so engrossing he just gave up and cried out as much as he wanted again and again. Nothing mattered but that for so long when Adam finally moved on to kiss across his hips he started begging, "Please," repeatedly, not even knowing what for or why.

Adam responded in kind, a hand unveiling itself from his hoodie sleeve to trace around his stone and relax him so deeply he fell into a trance. He felt Adam kissing his feet and back up again and tossed his head with pleasure. This man was literally kissing him from head to toe.

It became too much to handle the second he stopped. He lifted with rosy cheeks and glazed over eyes. "I wanna get married someday," He murmured dreamily. "I love you."

Steven couldn't believe how shell-shocked he was. They'd had sex countless times, made love just as much and cuddled regularly, but nothing compared to what just happened at all. "I'll say yes."

Adam purred. A soft vibration came from his throat as he settled to listen to Steven's heartbeat. He listened to the cadence for a while, and then he started to sing just for him, but with a tiny twist. "Another groom, another June
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, another reason
For makin' whoopee..."

Steven was so overcome by this talent he just laid there and let it consume him.

*

He decided not to propose the song until they got to where they were going. "Adam, I think you're one of the most talented men of this century. Do you know that?"

Adam looked the opposite of a normal person who might hear this news from the critically acclaimed Best Vocalist Of This Century: horrified and a little nauseous. "You really think so?"

"No one croons like you do," He promised, and he meant it. "There is a cushion to your voice that wraps me in down every time I listen to you sing like that. You sing like a human god."

His cheeks went rosy. "Thank you."

Steven slid out of the car and interlinked their hands as they walked because he loved Adam and he wanted to hold his hand. "I wanted you to sing me a song."

Adam eyed the building. "You're taking me to a concert hall?"

He nodded. "I need to hear you sing me one song with an orchestra."

People were indeed inside in their best dressed concert ware. Crisp white shirts with ties and black jackets and skirts stretched as far as the eye could see. Every person had a determined, focused expression. These were clearly some of the best musicians Steven could find that were also performing to impress him. Clearly he was planning something but that was neither here nor there.

"Just one song," Steven promised. "And I need you to give me your all. Don't focus on anyone else, don't let any of your talent evaporate before it hits the mic." He pulled him into the darkened backstage and gripped his face. "Don't disappoint me. Please. There's no audience but me and your orchestra. They are playing for you." He kissed Adam's awestruck look away. "This is your chance."

Adam didn't know why the stage lights were so bright but he found himself gripping the mic onstage with tears in his eyes. Steven had made him afraid to fail on purpose; not only was it his genuine wish but he wanted to test his stage presence. He wanted to test his resilience again. He was doing that a lot lately.

People filed in behind him and he took time to greet and smile at every one of them he could force himself to. Humans and gems of all kinds did it right back professionally. It was almost like being completely alone. These people were focused. Could he be focused?

Steven appeared in front of the stage and raised his hands. The orchestra played a single, random note to let him know they were paying attention. Most conductors didn't ever do that but Steven was different.

Adam swallowed and secretly thanked his lucky stars that he'd been drinking so much water today. He was thankful for not having a runny nose from his cold a couple of weeks ago. He tried to focus on all of the things that would make this easier instead of a 50,000 seated amphitheater without a single spot filled but the most important one.

The beginning notes to 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra started playing and he sighed heavily in relief. Steven often made grand gestures based on the music he was binging and Adam had been a little worried he might not even know the song. But this one was about being stubborn as all hell and so of course he would know it front and back being a music nerd and producer. As a stubborn person he appreciated Frank Sinatra's more than just about anyone. He felt like he understood his transmasculine lifestyle somehow.

Steven could hardly even conduct the second that sweet voice deepened by testosterone filled the space around him. There was an achingly sweet lilt to his vibrato, a deep and rich sadness to his tone. When Adam sang like this his eyes got wide and sad, he looked like a stray puppy with a big heart.

He marveled at every note. He was obsessed with this talent he'd found. Adam had something incredibly unlikely and he didn't even know it. He probably heard a girl but Steven heard a man. His voice embodied the struggle of a man past political. It ached, it writhed, it hurt. Adam sang like he hurt inside so bad and nothing could ever heal it. He sang like a broken man under a moonlit sky.

By the time he got to the second to last chorus Steven was bawling. Sometimes he could listen to a song and cry his eyes out and then another time it would just be a nice song. He knew he'd curl into himself sobbing every time he listened to this recording until Connie had to shake him out of it.

At some point he must have given up but this orchestra had already been carried away with the song itself like Adam had. Initially he'd been singing to him but then his eyes got unfocused with nostalgia for a time he'd never even known and he lost himself.

That's when it got better. So, so much better than Steven could have ever hoped for from him. He'd underestimated him even until the last line where his knees gave out and he cried into his hands.

Adam hit the last note and it was carried away with the symphony because he was hitting perfect pitch with every single note. When he lost air he fell to his knees to sob a joy he'd never be able to recreate while the instruments swelled into silence like they were in a movie. They could both hear others crying too, feeling the power of raw music, but all they could do was keep weeping.

They drove home in complete silence until they got there. "You did such a good job," Steven praised hoarsely. "I'm so sorry. I'm just so emotional. You make me so proud, Adam."

Adam sparkled and shimmered at him in quiet thanks. He was too flustered and maybe his voice was even shot from singing his blood, heart and soul out.

Connie welcomed him into her arms and he took time to just cry. He didn't know why Adam's voice moved him so easily and so hard but he hadn't had a good cry in a while. "Holy shit, Connie. How did we even find him?"

She threw her head back and laughed, fingers buried into his hair on instinct. "You had a crush on his boyfriend, remember?"

He nodded ruefully. "Thank you for that reminder." He snuffled one more time. "Okay, I'm done. You guys have gotta listen to this."

It moved Alex to tears immediately. "Oh my god."

Jasmin was the next to go by grinning at Adam and trying to cry quietly. "Is that you?!"

By the end Steven was crying again with the rest of them. Jacob had laid on his back to regress into a purely blissful state of mind. Steven knew he was going to. "Do you know how special you are?" He asked Adam achingly. "I'm telling you that you're so special. You have human made magic running through your blood, and you're going to become more magical the longer you're alive." Adam slumped into himself and started to cry too. "You're proof that magic existed before Gems."