It's not that Steven doesn't know how to fight. He's been training for the last few years. The reality, though, is that he's been experiencing combat for a measly three years of his life, and Jasper was born right into a war. Jasper was stronger than him back home, and they only ever managed to defeat her through fusion.

But... there's no one to fuse with, here. It's just him.

Jasper is the first person to offer him any serious resistance, beyond just trying to get in his way. When it comes down to it, he hasn't taken a lot of heavy blows before. He doesn't choose violence as the first option. As he hits the ground again, part of him realizes how very far out of his element he is.

It hurts, and it makes him angry. He shudders on the ground, digging his claws into the dirt as he tries to push himself up again, aiming his cannon at Jasper and getting ready to fire.