Steven would too, no doubt. Being away from home was always supposed to be his own choice, packing up his own car with the essentials, leaving the sentimental things to various friends. He was supposed to drive away from the sunset on the beach horizon and towards a new destiny, where he wasn’t Steven Universe, the universe savior.
Here, it actually had the worse side of that. He didn’t even get to say goodbye, and here, it was no different than back home in terms of danger. The cool independence of living alone was constantly interrupted by whatever danger was popping up, and he’d have to use his powers to protect everyone. That gave him yet another unwanted hero complex.
“Duh, dude!” Steven chuckled incredulously, clutching at his gem and forcing a smile. “Me too, but don’t get me so worked up about it! I’ll cry!”
His anxious grin fell into one of true enthusiasm as they stepped inside. He’d always been too intimidated to come in here, instead just admiring the cool aesthetic from outside. In his pink clothes and unjaded worldview, he’d just never been ready.
But as much as the loud music and angry teens piqued his interest, he gravitated towards something else first.
“Whoa, look at this!” Steven went to a display of bracelets that had spikes on them. He carefully took one and slipped it on his wrist. “It’s like a weapon!” He laughed.
“Hmm…” Steven had that question too. After all, it wasn’t often that he bought new clothes, what with his whole previous wardrobe being hand-me-downs, and all. Plus, he was too intimidated by the girl at the counter’s nose ring to ask her about fitting.
He took one of the black hoodies he’d been admiring earlier and finally spotted what he was looking for. “There’s a dressing room! Just take a bunch of the same stuff in various sizes and go try it on!” Steven nodded towards the hoodies, wondering if he’d take black too.
Zuko notes the brief moment of vulnerability between them as Steven presumably thinks about his own home, indicating a fondness for what he had left. He doesn't comment. I'll cry, says the younger boy, and Zuko doesn't doubt it. Steven does seem like the type to cry in front of a near-stranger.
Soon enough, Steven's boundless excitement has returned and he beelines to an accessory stand, showing off the 'weapon'. Zuko stands there a moment and seems unsure how to respond to such enthusiasm. "Uh, yeah, I suppose it could be. It's definitely not as sharp as my swords, though." Speaking of such things, he still had no idea where his dao swords had gone. All he had now was a shoddy piece of wood in the shape of something akin to a sword.
Zuko nods a bit in understanding as Steven explains how sizing and dressing rooms work. "Uh, alright... I'll be back, then." The two briefly part ways as the older teenager peruses the store. There are lots of shirts with graphics on them, but if it is in reference to anything, Zuko isn't sure what. He eventually gathers an armful of clothing and heads to the fitting room, only to poke his head out a few minutes later. "Hey, Steven!" he calls out, just loud enough to be heard over the music. He fully exits once he spots Steven, which is not hard given the bright pink jacket he's wearing.
He's opted for a pair of black combat boots, dark-wash skinny jeans with the least amount of rips he could find (why would someone want holes in their pants, anyway?), and a hoodie-jacket combo that was just a tad too large. Zuko tucks his hands into the pockets of the outer jacket and he stands a bit hunched over.
"Does this, uh, look okay?" queries the prince. Thinking back, he's never actually had the option to pick out his clothes like this before. Everything back home was picked out in advance and Zuko only chose what he wanted to wear day to day, never fussing with the details. Having so much freedom, while new and exciting, also left him overwhelmed with choices. "I have to look more normal than before, right?"
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