Hey guys! Sorry that I've been inactive so long. To make up for it, here's my first Steven Universe fanfic. 🤗

This fic takes place during the episode "the kindergarten kid". Peridot is still kind of crabby after Steven bombarded her with marshmallows, so he decides to show her an earth method of cheering people up. Enjoy!

Peridot and Steven were still sitting around the camp fire. Steven brought a sleeping bag and was getting ready to turn in for the night, while Peridot was still couched down, trying to think of a new plan.

Think like a monster, think like a monster.

"Um, Peridot?"

She looked over at her friend, frustrated that he interrupted her train of thought.

"Ugh, what is it Steven?" She said.

"You should really get some rest. I know that gems don't really need sleep, but after a day like this you could use a little nap."

"Steven, how could I possibly sleep at a time like this!" She exclaimed. "I need to think of another plan! I can't just relax!"

Steven looked at her with concern.

"Peri, I know your frustrated right now, but sleep will help you think more clearly."

Peridot looked down at her feet, refusing to make eye contact.

"Yeah, maybe." She said. "I'm just so, mad at myself and at that thing! I kind of get it now, but still not really. Does that even make sense? Gah! It's so confusing! But I think I'm learning. I mean, I'm understanding the monster more, and why it behaves the way it does, but I'm kind of mad at myself for not seeing it before."

She cradles up in a ball again, still looking down. Steven looks back at her, feeling a bit sorry.

"Look Peridot, I'm sorry about throwing marshmallows at you earlier." He says with a small smile.

"What?" Says Peridot. "Don't be sorry. I kind of needed that. You helped me see what it's like from the monsters perspective. Now I can properly come up with a plan, so thank you." She's finally looking back up at him.

"Yeah," Steven chuckled. "But maybe I could have done it a better way."

"Yeah, maybe." Peridot said back, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"You know, you can't stay angry forever." He said smiling.

"Who says I can't? I can stay mad as long as I want!"

Steven laughs and shakes his head at her.

"No Peridot, you can't."

"And why not?" She ask.

"Because I'm your friend, and friends help cheer each other up." Steven says walking over to her.

He sits down next to her and offers her a marshmallow. Peridot looks away with a pout, refusing the treat that he used as a weapon on her earlier.

Steven chuckles again, and says, "you know, we have ways of cheering people up on earth."

Peridot looks at him skeptically, one eyebrow raised.

"Really?" She ask. "Like what?"

Steven was glad that she asked. He smiled mischievously as he scotched within reaching distance of her.

"Um, Steven?" Said Peridot, as she nervously started leaning back away from him.

"Well," says Steven, "there is this." And then he pounced.

His fingers started kneading her upper legs, as she was overwhelmed by the strange new sensation. She started laughing despite herself, and was thrashing for escape.

"Steveveven! What is thihihis?" She said through her laughter.

"This is tickling." Steven said over his friends laughter. "It's a way to cheer people up, as long as they're ticklish."

Peridot tried to ask more questions, but was cut off by her own laughter as he switched to tickling her knees.

"Whahahait! NOHOHOH! Ah!" She suddenly screeched as he moved up to her unprotected under arms.

"Aww, Peri! I thought you said you could be angry for as long as you wanted? Did you change your mind?" Stevens teasing seemed to make the sensations worse, and she threw back her head with laughter.

"I cahahant help IHIHIHIT!" She exclaimed, struggling to escape the torture.

Steven couldn't help but laugh with her. He had been on the receiving end of tickles many times, and rarely got to do the tickling. When he did, he usually was over powered easily, and then tickled even more mercilessly. But Peridot wasn't putting up much of a fight. Maybe it was because she was already tired from the days events, or maybe she didn't know how to tickle back. Either way, Steven was enjoying his time being able to make someone else laugh for a change.

Peridot was panting as Steven let up on her a little. Her smile was still wide on her face, and their was an occasional giggle escaping from her mouth.

"So, are you still angry?" He asked.

Still panting, she managed to say, "I don't know, I'm to tired to tell."

"Well," Steven said, "I'd better make sure that all the anger is out of you!" And he was back at it, this time tickling her sides and stomach, as she once again started laughing uncontrollably.

"AHAHAHAH! Steven WHAHAHAHAIT! I'm not AHAHANGRY ANY MOHOHORE!"

"Hm, you know, I'm not entirely convinced." Steven said with a smirk. He continued to vibrate his fingers on her sides and stomach, until she was snorting from laughing so much.

After an eternity of the torture, Steven finally lightened up on her, slowing down to the occasional squeeze to the side, as she squeaked with each one.

"Alright," he said, "now there's no more anger left. Only giggles!"

To emphasize his point, he gave one last scribble to her side, sending her into a small giggling fit.

"Okay," she said, still panting. "You win."

Steven laughed as he went back over to his sleeping bag.

"You get some sleep, alright?"

"Okay, she said."

Steven started getting settled in as Peridot suddenly had a revelation.

"Hey Steven?" She asked.

Steven looked back to her.

"If you can tickle me, does that mean you can be tickled too?"

The look on Stevens face told Peridot exactly what she needed to know.

Well, being the tickler was nice while it lasted, but now Peridot was learning the earth method of getting rid of anger, and it was Stevens turn to laugh away any frustration or stress the day had brought.