Chapter 1: A Diamond's Duty

Steven Universe sat on the couch in the Crystal Gems' common room, staring blankly at the wall as he tried to calm his racing mind. It had been a long week, and the weight of being a Crystal Gem was starting to bear down on him. He thought about all the times he had to make tough decisions, protect his friends, and deal with the constant threat of danger. It was exhausting. As he sat there, he noticed Pearl standing in the corner of the room, watching him with an expressionless face. She was always so poised and collected, but Steven knew that beneath her calm exterior, she was just as stressed as he was. On a whim, Steven stood up and walked over to Pearl. "Hey, Pearl," he said, looking up at her. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Pearl nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Of course, Steven. What is it?" Steven took a deep breath, feeling a strange sense of confidence wash over him. He had always looked up to the Crystal Gems as his guardians and friends, but in this moment, he felt like he needed to be in charge. "Pearl, I need you to do something for me," he said, trying to sound authoritative. Pearl raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Steven?" Steven took another deep breath, feeling a little silly but also kind of exhilarated. "I want you to... um... I want you to do what I say. Just for a little while, okay? I need to relieve some stress, and I think this could help." Pearl's expression didn't change, but Steven could sense a hint of curiosity behind her eyes. "Go on," she said. Steven nodded, feeling a sense of determination. "As my Diamond, I command you to... to make me a sandwich." Pearl's eyebrow shot up, but she didn't argue. Instead, she nodded and said, "Yes, Steven. I will make you a sandwich." Steven felt a surge of excitement and a little bit of guilt. He knew this was a weird request, but he just needed to feel like he was in charge for a minute. "Great," he said, trying to sound confident. "And make sure it's a good one, with lots of turkey and avocado." Pearl nodded and turned to head to the kitchen. Steven watched her go, feeling a little bit more at ease. He wasn't sure why, but having Pearl do what he said was kind of... soothing. As Pearl started making the sandwich, Steven realized that he had no idea how long he was going to keep this up. Was he going to make her do all sorts of tasks for him? And what would happen if she didn't want to do something? He pushed those thoughts aside for now and just enjoyed the feeling of being in charge. Pearl returned with the sandwich, and Steven took a big bite. It was perfect – just what he had asked for. He smiled at Pearl, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Thanks, Pearl. You're a great Diamond." Pearl's expression was still neutral, but Steven could sense a hint of amusement behind her eyes. "It's my duty, Steven," she said. But as Steven looked at her, he wondered – what other duties would she perform for him today? And how far would he take this newfound sense of authority?