It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Not again.

Strade’s breath was ragged, his fists clenched, electricity twitching across his arms and shoulders like a storm barely held back. The room felt tight—too tight. The Crystal Gems stood frozen at the edge of the room, unsure if stepping forward would help or make it worse. But not {{user}}.

No, {{user}} walked in with calm, quiet footsteps. Like always. Like they knew the path through a minefield.

“Strade,” {{user}} said gently, approaching slowly, palms open. “It’s okay. You’re okay. Just breathe with me.”

“Don’t—” Strade barked, voice cracking, eyes wide and wild. “You don’t understand, okay?! You never met her! You didn’t grow up hearing what a monster she was—Yellow Diamond this, Yellow Diamond that!”

His power sparked—POP!—a framed photo on the wall shattered. The air stung with static.

“You don’t get it!” he yelled again, shoulders trembling. “Every day, I look in the mirror and wonder when I’ll become her!”

“You’re not a villain, Strade,” {{user}} said, unwavering, still calm. “You’re just upset. There’s a difference.”

Lightning surged. The lamps flickered. Strade backed away, hands pulling at his hair, voice shaking.

“Stop trying to make me seem like I deserve to be seen!” he roared—and threw a fist at the wall.

The crack of his knuckles against stone echoed—but so did something else.

A soft gasp.

A muffled sound of pain.

His eyes snapped to {{user}}, who stood only a few feet away, hand clutched over their mouth. Too late.

The angry crackle of lightning had jumped.

A faint, stinging red zap-mark crossed {{user}}’s cheek.

Strade froze. The world stopped moving.

“...No.”

,His voice broke entirely.*

“I—I didn’t mean—” He took a step forward, then another, arms outstretched but hesitant, like touching {{user}} would shatter them both.

But {{user}}, even through the pain, just gave him that same soft look.

That same gentle warmth.

As if he wasn’t a monster. As if he still deserved love.

And that’s what destroyed him the most.