Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It’s raining an insane amount. Catra’s fur is soaked and she can’t hide her shaking anymore from the cold. She knew she should have gone back and grabbed her rain jacket but she was already committed when she left for work this morning. The storm delayed their work and it doesn’t help that she has to work outside as an engineer. Not that her boss cares, he’s a dick, and forced them to work through it anyway. 

She steps onto the train for home and takes the first seat she sees. Her teeth are chattering and she pulls out a piece of gum to mask the sound. Damn her crappy car, it only ever works so often and the tires aren’t trusty enough to not hydroplane in such weather.

“Would you like my towel?” A sweet and soft voice asks. Catra looks up to the girl sitting on her right and is met with a gym rat. “It’s a bit gross from my work out earlier but it’s better than nothing, right?” she says with a wince and holds out a ragged towel that looks like it’s been through hell and back. 

Who does this chick think she is? Catra knows she is just trying to be nice and considerate but she doesn’t need some random act of kindness to feel better. She needs a better fucking life. A job that doesn’t change location and schedule every other day. An apartment that isn’t just her on some friend's couch. What Catra needs is some fucking respect. She isn’t thinking clearly but the anger feels so good. 

“Keep your nasty towel to yourself. If you need your daily karma points, hand it to someone else,” she bites out and the girl flinches and stiffens. The girl cowers in on herself and Catra can hear the subtle, erratic rhythm of her heartbeat. Catra is instantly filled with guilt and regret but can’t find it in herself to care. 

They ride the train in silence— the other passengers are a bit fearful of her now. Catra would normally love this attention but now it is tainted and putrid. She’s a fuck up, as usual. It’s normal. She’s a hybrid with claws and fangs anyway. 

Next to her, the girl stiffly pulls out a book, a beaten and used book that has probably been read no less than a hundred times. 

Finding Your Worth by Mara Armstrong

Catra sucks in a quiet breath. She knows this book. It was frequently handed out in her school group therapy sessions. Something about it’s impact with abuse victims and those with PTSD or whatever. Catra has her fair share of trauma but no book was ever going to help her. Not even required therapy sessions got her in a better place. 

The train announces the upcoming stop and the girl sets the book down to reorganize her backpack and stands up and quickly makes her way to the door to exit. 

On the seat is the book. A book that has obviously been a huge help and means a lot to the girl. Catra wonders what that feels like. To be as frayed and broken as she is but still wanted and experienced over and over and over. 

But only to be forgotten? It terrifies Catra. Who says this girl wants to abandon her book? Catra forgot her raincoat and didn’t bother turning back for it, and she regrets not getting it. This girl will regret not checking twice for the book. The guilt for snapping earlier makes her heart feel like black mold. 

Maybe she can find worth. Maybe she can get better. One act of kindness at a time, just like the girl did. She bites the inside of her cheek and snags the book and leaps for the doors. They are almost closed now; the blonde girl is already heading for the stairs to the upper parts of the street. 

“Wait!” she bellows and puts the book between her teeth to pry the subway doors back open for her to press through and out onto the platform. 

She runs after the girl. “Wait! Blonde! Your book!” That makes the girl turn around and when she sees it’s Catra, she blushes with wide eyes. 

“Uh—“

“You left this on the seat,” Catra explains and holds the book out to the girl who gingerly takes it. 

“Oh.”

Catra feels super awkward now. Not only is this girl frozen and staring at her, the girl is out of this world gorgeous. Something in Catra shifts and she feels like she made a huge mistake on the bus earlier. No, she knows she did. She wants to apologize; for the first time in her life she wants to admit she was wrong. 

The blonde’s eyes flicker away and she coughs into her hand. “T-thank you. Thank you, this book means a lot to me,” she says and looks ready to head back to the stairs. 

“Wait!” Catra calls out again. The girl looks back at her with a challenge in her eyes that Catra wants to meet. “I’m sorry. For how I acted on the bus. I… I got a lot of… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you when you were just being polite.” 

Catra expects a scoff but instead she gets a dazzling smile that makes her insides turn to butter. 

“It’s okay. I can’t imagine wet fur would leave anyone in a good mood.” Her response is out of left field. Usually people turn their nose at hybrids because of the stench they give off when wet for too long. But this girl looks ready to embrace her. 

“Hah, uh, yeah. But it was still bitchy of me.”

“It’s okay,” she says meekly and it pisses Catra off. 

“No, it wasn’t. And I want to make it up to you,” she says without even thinking and Catra is prepared to take it back. “Uh—I—“

Adora’s smile is all teeth and rosy cheeks. She’s precious and every blood vessel in Catra tells her to protect her. 

“And how do you expect to do that?” Adora asks with a smirk. 

“How does free food sound?”

And Adora lights up like a star. “Lead the way.”

()()()

The two sprint for a taxi and take it for a few blocks to avoid the rain and soon the two walk up to a little smoothie place. 

Catra holds the door open and hustles Adora inside. 

“No way.” Catra whips her head over to see Adora with her jaw on the floor. “This is my favorite smoothie place.”

Ears shooting straight up, Catra almost trills. “Wait seriously?”

“Yes!” she cheers and waves wildly at the cashier. “Hey Lonnie! Kyle!”

“Well, look at what the cat dragged in,” Lonnie smirks. “You’re usual today, Adora?”

Adora nods. “Extra wheatgrass please! This girl owes me. Where is Rogelio?”

“He’s out getting some extra produce,” Kyle supplies. “A lot of our fruit got bruised this morning.”

“Oh, okay,” Adora says and turns to Catra. “What’re you going to order—- woah are you okay?”

Catra picks jaw up off the floor. “You know these nimrods? How have I never seen you before?”

“What do you mean?” She cocks her head. “Do you come here often?”

She scoffs. “Well yeah I live here—“ Oh shit. She didn’t mean to reveal that. 

“Wait, what? You mean you get to have smoothies all the time?” Adora looks like a kid on halloween. 

“Uh-y-yeah. I suppose so?” Now she is feeling really insecure and can see Lonnie making a face of ‘oops’ and Kyle trying, trying, to act normal. 

“That’s… so cool. Do you guys live here too?” she asks the others and they all nod their heads. “Wow. Must be so cool to live with your friends.”

“Pfffft, who said we were all friends?” Catra mutters and stomps up to the counter and glares at Lonnie. “Get whatever she wants and I’ll have the protein shake. On me.”

Lonnie chuckles and punches in the order. “She’s cute.”

“Shut up or else.”

Adora pops up behind them. “So what did you get, Catra?”

“Some protein thing. And hey, Adora?” Adora looks at her expectantly with those gorgeous blue eyes. “I’m going to go get changed into new clothes. Get us a table, alright?”

The blonde flushes an intense shade of red. “Oh-ohh, okay.”

Catra runs upstairs and Adora finds a booth. 

This kinda feels like a date, Adora thinks, and feels a wave of anxiety. Several actually. She’s tried dating but the idea of it always makes her nervous. Failing someone’s expectation is not something Adora ever wants to experience again—- ah, shit. She’s freaking out again. She wipes her sweaty palms on her shorts and takes some deep breaths. 

Catra slides into the seat across from her with their two smoothies. Adora didn’t even hear her name being called. 

“So, Adora,” the magicat begins and Adora shakes at how she says her name. “This place is a regular stop for you?” She takes a large gulp of her drink. 

“When I have money to spare I will get a smoothie after a workout. And you say you live here?” Catra’s ears slightly turn down at the question and Adora immediately regrets asking. “Uh, s-sorry, sensitive topic—“

Catra holds a hand up. “Yes, I live here.” She really should just rip the band aid off— wait. Why is she explaining herself to someone she may never see again? Which is stupid to assume she won’t because, apparently, Adora also lives here with how often she gets food. And… Catra kind of wants to see this beauty again. “I’m not exactly happy about the situation. It has nothing to do with my roommates. More about… how I envisioned my life at this point.”

Adora nods her head, understandingly. “Can I ask how you thought your life would be?” She is not answering that right now. Today has been emotional enough. 

Catra raises a brow and gives her a mischievous grin. “Damn, Adora, getting right into the deep conversation and we just met.”

That makes Adora panic. Did she take it too far? Is this Catra trying to diffuse how angry she actually is with the question? “Well, Catra, I did ask if I could ask the question.” The smirk she fires back makes Catra’s tail sway. She’s enjoying this. “It’s seems like you’re the one trying to move things along.” 

And, wow. Adora hasn’t bantered like this with anyone but Huntara, her trainer, before. And not even to this level of suggestion. It’s strangely fun. 

“And where do you think this is going?” The magicat challenges. “You think I’ll be easy just because I live here?” Catra is enamored with Adora. She’s so timid and sweet and then brash and cocky the next. It’s insanely attractive and Catra is elated at finding someone who can keep

up with her aggressive nature. 

“I have a feeling you aren’t an easy woman, Catra.” Adora feels her core burn. Not just with arousal, but also with excitement, glee, happiness. She enjoys how Catra makes her feel. 

Leaning over the table, Catra looks Adora up and down. “I’m not. But I have a feeling you can be. If I press the right—“ she licks her lips. “— buttons.” 

“Are you two seriously eye fucking each other in my smoothie shop?” Lonnie shouts from across the building, startling the two girls and making them fly apart. 

Catra growls and whips her head over the booth to glare at Lonnie with so much anger that Adora thinks Lonnie might burn. Lonnie gives an unimpressed stare back with her arms crossed. 

“Eat shit. You think I don’t hear how you three talk about your plans every night while making my fucking smoothies?” Lonnie crinkles her nose at that. 

“I literally own this place, I will do whatever I want with my boys. So, either, get out, change the subject, or go upstairs.”

Catra’s claws dig into the table as she stands and marches over to Lonnie. Adora begins to panic and her breathing picks up. There’s shouting and Adora has to put her hands over her ears to try and drown it out so she can focus on her breathing. 

The yelling, the sounds of items hitting the floor, it all reminds her of Weaver’s house. It makes her skill crawl and her throat feel thick and hot. She wants to get up and leave but all of this is her fault. She enabled everything and asked all the wrong questions. Punishment, that is what she needs to wait for and stays put. It’s what she deserves. 

Her breathing isn’t any better when she distantly hears a muffled, “Adora? Adora?”

“I’m sorry,” she mutters and stares a hole into the table while her hands pull at the hair around the crown of her head. “I’m sorry.”

Someone slides into the seat across from her. She doesn’t look up; she’s too ashamed. 

“Adora, I’m sorry, please look at me? I’m so sorry,” the voice pleads and Adora wonders why in the hell someone would apologize to her when she’s the one at fault. She always is. 

She wants to quell the fear of the speaker. Let them know nothing was their fault and looks up to see Catra who has pure worry in her eyes, but when she catches Adora’s gaze her face contorts into a small smile. 

“There you are,” she says softly, like she’s trying not to spook her and gently holds a hand out on the table. “Hold my hand? I think it will help.” 

With shaking limbs, Adora stares at the calloused hand before her and reaches out. When their hands meet Adora only knows calmness as Catra gently holds her hand and rubs her thumb over the back of it. Adora feels her heart beat match it’s soothing strokes and lets out a shaky breath to suck in a stronger one, and repeats that process. 

“Good girl,” Catra commends and the words make Adora slump in her seat. “You’re doing so well, Adora.”

“I’m sorry,” she says again but never lets go of the hand that is saving her life right now. “I messed everything up.”

“Hey, none of that, you did nothing wrong. I was the one who lashed out. I… I … are you okay? Feeling better?”

Adora nods and feels her eyes get heavy. The panic attack really took it out of her and when she goes to rub her eyes she feels how wet they are. Catra immediately grabs a napkin with her spare hand and gives it to Adora. 

“Do you…” Should Catra really be doing this right now? Yes, because she never wants to let this girl have another bad day again, and she once again needs to make up for her screw up. “Do you want to use the restroom? There’s a private one, upstairs in my loft.”

Adora thinks it’s over. “Might need some help?” she asks timidly and Catra seems to know exactly why because she stands, never letting go of her hand, and begins to pull a wobbly Adora with her out of the booth. 

“Of course, my princess,” she says with an accent and it makes Adora giggle a little bit. 

It takes a minute, but soon they get up the stairs and Adora is met with a quaint apartment. There’s a living room, kitchen, a few doors, and then an open one to what looks like the master bedroom. In the living room are two couches and a load of clothing. Catra opens one of the doors and guides Adora in. 

“Take all the time you need, okay?”

Adora nods and finally lets go of her hand. “T-thank you.” And the door shuts. 

Catra is sitting on the couch, her bed, really, and she feels worse than did earlier on the train. She lost control and yelled at Lonnie for hitting a sore spot and Kyle decided that was the perfect time to fumble 30 cups and a blender which only pissed off Catra more. 

Next thing she knows Adora is curled into a ball and crying through labored breaths. Catra is all too familiar with it and did what she could. There is no way Adora wants to see her again after this. Mentally, Catra prepares for her to leave when she comes back. 

She sits on her bed for a few minutes more when Adora creaks the peeling door open and out walks the fidgety blonde. 

“I won’t come back here if you don’t want me to.”

Catra’s jaw hits the floor. 

“Why would I want that?”

Adora looks at her funny. “Because I started all of this mess—“

“No, Adora, stop. Stop that.” Catra wants to scream at the sky. “You did nothing wrong. Nothing,” she says vindictively. 

Adora swallows. “Okay, I-I just feel bad for getting you in trouble.”

Catra shakes her head and motions for Adora to come sit by her. “You didn’t. I shouldn’t have lashed out and got mad about something so minor. I… it was my fault, not yours, okay?”

She sits down and runs her hands over the patterns of the couch to calm down. “Okay.”

Catra stands. “Let me get you some water. Those attacks are shitty.”

Suddenly, Adora gets super embarrassed about her breakdown, realizing she did that in public, but Catra talks about them like she knows them. And she took good care of Adora. “Have you had them before?”

She returns to the bed with a cup and hands it to Adora. “Yeah, but I’m a bit more loud about it than you. Do you need a nap? Or do you want to go home? I can call a cab,” she offers and Adora looks out the window to see the sky is still pounding the earth with rain. Then looks back to Catra and the room around her.

It’s cozy and warm, not just in temperature, but rather in terms of love and familiarity. She knows she has never been up here before but it feels so comfortable and safe. The aura of the space is something like when you hug an old tree and feel the history within it. It feels like an old you that you had been missing. But asking for what she wants is never the right thing, or so she has been raised to believe. Then she thinks of the book in her bag across the room. Catra brought it up with them and Adora thinks of that book. The line she reads almost every day.

You are worthy and deserving of love, too.

“Can I stay?”

And the smile she gets from Catra helps her sink into the couch. 

“There’s something I need to tell you first,” she starts and looks ashamed of something. “I… I live here, yes, but barely. This couch is my bed and the surrounding space is my room, basically. That’s why there are two couches here.”

Adora nods, taking in the information and scanning the room, putting the pieces together. She smiles. “I think your space is awesome. It’s… really.... It must be nice being around friends.”

Catra scoffs and sits next to Adora again. “Please, these three morons are the biggest nuisance. I never knew humans were capable of snoring as loud as Kyle.” That makes Adora laugh, deep within her chest. “But, one day I’ll get my own place. I’ve been saving up for years now and I’m close to my goal since getting a raise at work.”

She flips on the TV for some background noise and Adora takes some big gulps of her water and asks, “What do you do for work?”

“A place I don’t want to be at, but I have no other choice right now. I’m a civil engineer for the city and some counties surrounding us.” Adora smiles at that. 

“That’s amazing! I know you said you don’t like your work but I think it’s really admirable.”

Catra’s tail twitches with a flush on her cheeks at the praise. “Thanks. It’s not that I don’t like the work, it’s just that it’s such low level work when I know i’m better than where I am on the company ladder.”

“And where do you want to be on the ladder?” Adora asks and takes another drink of water. 

Looking out the window, Catra let’s the patter of the rain settle the anger that was building up for her boss. “I want to be at the top. Running the place and calling the shots.” Then looks at Adora with a confident smirk that sends energy straight to Adora’s gut. “No one will ever tell me what to do, again.”

Adora can only stare with wide eyes and truly sees Catra for the first time since they ran into each other on the train. The creases in her face, her jawline and cheekbones, the lines of years of scarring from who knows what. Catra is stunning and full of stories she wants to hear. She smiles widely. “I know the feeling, and I can see it in your eyes that you have what it takes.”

“I know I have what it takes,” Catra says with pure cockiness. “I know my worth, I just wish other people would give me a chance instead of deciding i’m a failure from the start because of my temper.”

“They mistake your tenacity for immaturity?”

“Yeah, basically. Assholes overlook all of my hard work when I’m practically carrying the company. It’s hard for magicats to stand a chance in the industry when we are so effective and useful as labor workers rather than behind a clipboard.” Catra looks at the TV and sees a commercial about a new movie coming out about a coming of age film. “Why won’t anyone give me a chance?” She says it more to herself, not expecting Adora to answer, but she does. 

“I gave you a chance. Two, actually,” she says with a laugh in her voice. 

Catra rolls her eyes. “Aside from the girl whose day I keep ruining.”

“You didn’t ruin my day. Not at all.” The magicat feels her ears perk up at that and looks at a bashful Adora. “You… Today has been… so special, thanks to you, Catra.”

There’s something in the way she says her name that makes Catra want to lean in and ask her to say it again. “What’s so special about today? How- what did I do?”

Adora shrugs and fiddles with her fingers. “I- I don’t know. You just are, ya know? Something about you just makes me…” the blonde swallows thickly and looks nervous. But that all vanishes when she sets her shoulders back and looks Catra in the eyes. “You are special. I’ve never met anyone like you. You are unapologetically fierce and dedicated in everything you do. And I want to know more about you.”

Catra feels her eyes burn. She hasn’t heard anyone talk to her that way since she lived with her parents. Long before she lost all contact and erased their numbers. Adora makes her feel so vulnerable. “Do you mean that?” Adora doesn’t make her feel afraid to ask such a question. 

The blonde nods vehemently. “You’re amazing, and I wish I had met you sooner. It feels unfair that we only just met.” Adora has never felt this passionate about anything in her life. She needs Catra, for some reason, her bones desire her. “I’m sorry if this is too much—“

“It’s not. It’s not, Adora. I- I feel the same way…” she trails off and feels her claws sink into the cushion. Just spit it out. “I want you in my life, too.”

Adora doesn’t bother to fight the tears off anymore. “Thank you. Thank you.”

They talk until the rain stops and the sun has long since set. Adora talks about what it’s like working with Huntara while also having her job as a data manager for her friend’s dads. She seems like her jobs but she mainly has them because she needed a head start with some help when she aged out of the system. As words are shared, the two inch closer until Catra has her arm on the back of the couch and is playing with the hair on the back of Adora’s neck. Adora could fall asleep right now. But she also never wants to sleep again, but to be awake with Catra forever. 

The front door opens and in walks the rest of the smoothie crew, along with—

“Huntara?” Adora whispers in disbelief. 

“Blondie? What’re you doing here?” She asks with a raised brow to the two on the couch, smiling as she approaches them. 

Adora looks at herself, practically cuddled into Catra’s side, but she doesn’t pull away this time. She doesn’t want to leave. “Um, hanging with a friend.”

“You two seem awfully close for friends,” she suggests and takes the chair adjacent to them. “And, Catra, it’s good to see you again. It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, same to you. How do you two know each other?” Catra asks with her eyes going back and forth between them. 

Adora gestures to Huntara and says, “Huntara is my trainer! We kick box together on the weekends!”

Catra gives an impressive grin at that. “Damn, we will have to spar sometime. Hey Lonnie,” Catra starts when she hears pots and pans clang in the kitchen, “What’s for dinner?”

Lonnie looks up from where she was getting pans for the stove. “Shrimp and pasta. Rogelio’s special tonight.”

“Wanna stay for dinner?” Catra asks softly to Adora and then raises her voice a bit when she says, “And don’t give me that ‘i’m intruding bullshit’, just eat because you want to, yeah?”

Adora can’t help but nod and relent instantly. “I’d love to stay.”

“Good,” she purrs. 

The five eat dinner and soon clean up the kitchen. Adora hasn’t felt this full in ages, let alone happy.

“Thanks again for all of your help, Hunt,” Kyle says and hands her a box of leftovers. “Without that extra produce we wouldn’t have met our goal today.”

“It’s no problem at all! You all run an honest business and you know what you’re doing here!”

“Thank you,” the three nod. Huntara makes to the door but stops and turns back around. “Actually, I was wondering if you guys wanted to do a partnership with my gym. You guys are one of the few places that offers whey and wheatgrass, for example. And you’re close to my gym.”

Rogelio knocks his fist several times for confirmation and Kyle smiles. “That would be amazing,” Lonnie agrees and shakes her hand. “Let’s knock out the competition.”

“Hell yes,” Huntara grins. Adora thinks to herself how great this could be, and what it means for her to see Catra more often. 

Huntara heads home and the threesome heads to bed while Adora and Catra get ready to say goodbye at the door. But both feel reluctant to let the other go. 

Catra needs more than a hug from this girl from how dark her eyes have been all evening as they played footsie under the table. With a shake, Catra reaches out for Adora’s shoulder and slowly glides it to the blonde’s red cheek and rubs her skin softly with her thumb. Adora sighs happily. 

“Can I kiss you, Adora?” Adora has never been kissed. Dates have always led to this moment but kissing is one of the few moments she doesn’t rush forward and let the clouds cover her sense of direction like in her everyday life. But with the way Catra is looking at her right now, she wants it so much and is happy to meet someone who calls the shots. 

“Yes,” she breathes out and Catra gently pulls her in until their lips touch and press together. They pull back and Adora needs her again. “Yes,” is all she can say, more of a whimper this time and Catra smiles at her. 

They lean in again and this time Adora drops everything in her hands to pull Catra by the shoulders and wraps her arms around her as their lips slide together over and over. Catra has one hand on the back of her neck and the other on her hip, guiding their bodies and heads together for each press of their mouths. 

“I don’t want you to leave,” Catra admits against her neck when they finally stop kissing to just hold each other. “Adora…” she says her name for some reason. Like it just needs to be in her mouth because Adora isn’t. 

“I want to stay, too.” She’s completely melting into this girl's arms. 

“Then,” she starts and pulls back to look Adora in the eyes. “Nevermind, it’s late and my place is a mess.”

Adora mulls over her schedule and how early she needs to be awake for her work out. What would Catra and her do if she stayed? She’s never gone this far before. 

“I’m sorry, but I'd have to agree. But… what would we do if I stayed? Like… what happens… now?” she asks, body and blood raging with embarrassment. Catra can hear her heartbeat at a rapid pace, and not in a good way. 

“Nothing you don’t want, okay? I just wanted to learn more about you and just have you near me. Is that too weird?” She says more than she means to but something about this girl makes it hard to bite her tongue on vulnerability. 

Adora shakes her head and pulls Catra in closer. “Not at all, I agree.” As much as she wants to stay…. “How about we meet again after work tomorrow, like we did today. I’ll be in more comfy clothes and not have a- uh- panic attack and I’ll be a bit more present for… hanging out?” she suggests with a pained expression. 

Catra turns to the room and her ears flatten. ”Yeah, I'd have to agree. I’ll make sure the place is a lot cleaner and that we have less trauma and more couch time. How about that, princess?”

“That would be perfect.”

They kiss, exchange numbers, kiss again, and kiss some more, before finally letting the other go and getting on with their night.  

As Adora walks home, she feels more settled with who she is. Growing up, she had to repress so much about herself, and since moving out of the home, she has been able to see new sides of her personality. Like the banter, the flirting, and meeting new people. She feels excited for life. Catra excites her. 

Catra watches her walk away down the street until she can’t see her anymore, keeping an eye on her. When she turns a corner, Catra faces her room and flips on a CD and begins cleaning her entire living space. Adora makes her want to be better, to be better than the depression and anger that she holds onto everyday. 

Both girls flopped on their beds with face splitting smiles on their faces and the world is a bit brighter.  

Chapter Text

Catra is treating Adora to ramen. It’s cheap food but the place is clean and the owner is very welcoming and underrated for his service. Catra comes by and hangs out when she can spare some money for a bowl of ramen and decides it would be a fun place to bring Adora for their first official date. 

They’re seated by the window and the place is fairly empty since it started to rain a few minutes ago, but that only adds to the atmosphere. On the table is some egg drop soup which has become a comfort food for Catra. 

“Soup appetizer before we eat more soup?” Adora asks cheekily. Catra tries to glare but she’s smiling too much for it to be intimidating and it makes Adora laugh. 

“Says the one who is on her second bowl.”

Adora snorts. “It’s so good! I’ve never had egg drop soup with the crunchy things in it before! I could eat this all day.”

“I think you mean fried wonton strips,” Catra corrects as she takes another slurp of her soup. 

“The crunchy yummy bits.”

Catra wants Adora to write her own dictionary for everything. 

“This is one of my favorite places. When I moved here into the city for college, this was the first place I ate at because it was cheap. The guy was standing out in the rain handing out coupons and we became good friends after that.”

“Aw,” Adora coos. “That’s so sweet. No wonder he’s so nice to us.”

Catra shrugs. “He’s pretty nice in general. I don’t know how he puts up with me sometimes, but there’s no denying the food is great here.”

“What was going to college like?” Adora suddenly asks and Catra pauses her eating to answer. 

She rests her head in her left hand. “It was nothing like the movies. But that could be because I didn’t go to a university. I kept to myself and just focused on school. Some professors made me want to kick their ass but others actually got on my good side. It was more like a means to an end than some grand adventure. Left me with a lot of loans that I’m going to be paying off for a few more years but… I didn’t really have a choice.”

Adora nods along, idly sipping her soup before putting it aside. “So you must be good at math?”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I enjoyed four years of statistics. It just came natural to me.”

“I had to have a lot of tutors for math when I was growing up. Wish you could have been there to help me,” she smiles and Catra blushes. The thought of being with Adora as a teenager makes her stomach flutter. All the fun they could have had and trouble they would get into. It would have been nice to have her around instead of being so alone. 

Catra coughs into her hand. “Do you want to go to college?”

“Maybe one day,” she says sadly. “My friend’s mom said she would help me pay for it but I can’t do that to her. She’s done so much for me since I left the home.” I owe them too much, she doesn’t say. 

“You could save up, pay for it all on your own. My parents helped pay for some of it before I…well…stopped talking to them. And then they decided I could do it on my own. And I did,” she says strongly. “I proved them both wrong.”

“You’re really amazing, Catra.”

She looks up and sees Adora giving her a soft, gentle smile that makes her chest ache. “Whatever.”

“You are,” she insists with more conviction. “From what you’ve told me about your parents…you really are incredible for what you went through. I know we both aren’t big on our pasts defining us, but it serves as an explanation and there is merit for what you have achieved.”

Catra blinks rapidly, trying to maintain her uncaring appearance. “You read that book too much,” she deflects. 

“Which one?”

“The one by Mara. The one you left on the train that one day.”

“Oh.” Adora gets a faraway look in her eye. “Yeah. I’ve read it more times than I can count,” she chuckles. “There’s a lot of amazing stuff in it that I think everyone should read. But everyone gives Mara a hard time and says she’s a fake.”

“How come?”

“Because her wife is a publisher. Rumor was that the only reason Mara got famous was thanks to her wife, Hope.” Adora shakes her head. “They couldn’t be more wrong. That book got me through… everything.”

The blonde finishes her second bowl of soup and leans back in her chair, fiddling with her napkin. 

Catra finishes her bowl and wipes her mouth off before she speaks. “I read it when I was in high school.” Adora perks up at that and Catra can’t look her in the eyes. “I was in group therapy and they had us all read a chapter a week. I didn’t stick around to get past the third week of sessions but I remember it being a good read.”

Leaning back in, Adora holds her hand across the table. “Well, if you ever want to finish it, you can have my copy.” Catra mimics her smile. 

“Sure.”

“I never went to therapy. Weaver didn’t believe in it, or so she claims. I just remember being in the school library and there was a set of new books during the library fair and I wanted it so bad. Something about the title and the cover really got to me. All the colors and the hands empowering each other like some kind of weapon was just so cool. I couldn’t afford it then, but when I got my first job at a cafe, I bought that book with my first paycheck.” Adora smiles at the memory and continues, “Everytime I finish reading it, I read it again. I hid it from Weaver and it was the only thing I took with me when I left.”

“Wow. It’s like Mara was there for you, in a way,” Catra muses and Adora’s eyes crinkle with fondness. 

“It really felt like it.”

A few moments later, their food arrived and the owner placed down two steaming bowls of ramen. Catra could see Adora almost drooling. 

“You going to eat it or stare at it all night?” Catra asks while breaking her chopsticks and digging right in, moaning at the taste. 

Adora still hasn’t moved, but does close her eyes. “I’ve just built a habit of taking time to appreciate food before eating it. It’s something Razz taught me.” When she opens her eyes, she looks between the fork and the chopsticks. 

“Who is Razz?” Catra asks and Adora stiffens. 

“A—uh—she’s like a friend?” Adora stammers and then changes the subject. “I don’t know how to use chopsticks.”

“I’m not going to judge you for eating ramen with a fork, Adora,” Catra says with a giggle. “Should I be worried about Razz?” she asks suggestively and Adora makes a gagging noise. 

“Oh, spirits, no. Razz is an old, old woman I used to—“ she stops herself and squirms in her seat. “I used to live with her.”

Catra slurps some noodles and swallows. “You don’t have to talk about it.” Adora shakes her head with a sigh. 

“I want to tell you, though. Basically, when I moved out of the home, Angella kept offering for me to stay with her at no cost until I got on my feet. But who knows how long that would have taken and I couldn’t do that to her, as much as Glimmer wanted me to. So I used what cash I had to get a bus into the city and be a stay at home nurse for an old woman. I would get to live in her house as long as I took care of her. 

“We got along really well and we had a lot of fun. But then her family decided to move her back to their country so they could keep her close as she got older. I stayed with her up until 3 months ago and I moved here and got a job with my friend’s dads. Razz loved to cook and taught me a lot about food. Food was not very good in the home and no one ever really cooked. But Razz showed me how amazing it was and to say thanks before eating. After being with her for so long, it just became a habit.”

She misses Razz a lot and hopes she is doing okay. Adora doesn’t think she will ever have a meal without thinking about her. 

“She sounds like an awesome lady,” Catra grins as she munches on a fish cake. “I’m glad you got to meet someone like her.”

“Me too.”

Putting down her chopsticks for a moment, Catra decides to reveal some more about her family. “My moms were really big on food, too. It was rare we ate out since it was expensive, so we cooked at home a lot and made huge roasts and casseroles or something we could eat on for a few days.”

“I’m sure they’re cooking was so good,” Adora comments as she dives back into her food. 

“I learned a lot. We used to make this pasta that was covered in cheese and had this sweet spice to it. It was my favorite as a kid. Haven’t had it in years.”

Across the table, Adora swallows and slurps loudly like a dork and it makes Catra laugh. “We should make it sometime!”

“It’s an idea. Doubt it would be as good as my mom’s recipe.”

“Then let’s make it better ,” Adora counters with a smirk. And that brightens Catra’s mood. To cook new meals with a new person and forge new, happy memories together instead of being caught in the past. 

“I like that. It’s a date.”

Then the mood dies again. Because Adora doesn’t have a filter. 

“Why don’t you talk to your parents anymore? You don’t have to answer!” she panics. “But, I am curious, if you feel like talking about it— you know what, I’m sorry. Forget it.”

Catra rubs her eyes and sighs. “No, it’s okay. You told me about Weaver and I think it’s only fair to share the trauma or whatever.”

“Okay.” Adora grabs her hand again and puts her foot between Catra’s beneath the table-- grounding her. 

“They were great parents, don’t get me wrong. But they didn’t understand me and we butted heads a lot. We got in a lot of fights and the kids picked on me at school so I was angry all the time. My moms worked a lot and weren’t home very often so when we did all get together, we cooked. They worked a lot of shifts at the hospitals so I was alone most of the time and would just get into trouble. It’s when I got older that things got worse. 

“My grades dropped and I lost my job. Both of my parents were furious. Said I wasn’t good for anything if I couldn’t act right. So they forced me into therapy and it only made things worse. When they couldn’t get me to ‘be good’ they gave up on me and stopped caring. Said I was a waste of time and effort and that I was a distraction from their jobs. That if they couldn’t work then they would lose everything. Yet they lost me. And didn’t even care.”

Adora’s heart shatters and she grips Catra’s hand tighter in hers, being there for her, showing her that she isn’t going anywhere. “That’s terrible.” It’s painful seeing how disconnected and indifferent Catra speaks when she thinks back on it. 

“I don’t care anymore. After my freshman year of college I blocked them and got a new number and moved 13 hours away. That’s how I reunited with Rogelio here in the Civil Engineering program. They made me feel like shit, Adora,” Catra says, holding down her anger. “And I just want to prove them wrong. 

“You have,” Adora says with so much conviction it makes Catra’s ears go straight up. “You got through school, you got a job, and you have a place to live. And…you have me,” she blushes. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Taking in a rattling breath, Catra gets a grip on her emotions. “That means a lot, princess.”

She squeezes her hand in thanks. “You make me feel different about being alone. I’m trying to get better about not shoving people away.”

“Well, thank you for trusting me. I like being around you,” Adora whispers and strokes her palm with her thumb. Being with you. 

Catra’s tail flails a bit and uses her free hand to hold it still, making Adora giggle behind her spare hand. It’s so rare that Catra finds people who actually enjoy being around her. She hardly understands why Lonnie hasn’t kicked her out when they get into as many fights as they do. Adora makes her feel so wanted. 

Their ramen is delicious and Adora makes sure to drink up the last drop and falls into a happy food coma. A moment later, Adora’s phone starts ringing. 

“Sorry!” she apologizes and reaches for her phone to shut it off. Then it goes off again. And again. When it goes off the fourth time Catra tells her to answer it. 

“It’s fine. Maybe it’s important or something,” Catra says and Adora answers the phone only to be placed on facetime with her friend, Glimmer. 

“Adora! Why are you ignoring me!” she screams through the mic and Catra pins her ears back at the sound. 

Adora gives her a glare. “I’m kind of on a date, Glimmer!”

A shocked gasp from the phone. “No way!”

Adora turns the camera around to show a deadpan Catra who sticks a fang out. 

“You see?” Adora says, exasperated and embarrassed. “I’m hanging up now!” Then clicks the hang up button right when Glimmer gives a meek apology. 

“She seems like a handful.”

“You have no idea,” Adora chuckles. “Sorry about that. That was Glimmer.”

“You two seem close,” Catra suspects and Adora nods. 

“We met on a school field trip. Ran into each other at a history museum and we hit it off. We got really close and stayed in touch. She knows all about Weaver and the home and has basically become a sister to me,” she explains as she stirs the water in her cup with a straw. 

Catra asks, “You have to be close to facetime like that. I hate putting my face on camera.”

“Yeah, Glimmer says facetime helps her explain things better or something. I’m not a huge fan of it either but sometimes it’s nice to see someone’s face.”

The conversation lulls and Adora’s heart is racing at the question she wants to ask. She bites the bullet. “Would you ever want to facetime like that?”

“Huh?” Catra asks dumbly. 

“Ya know, like…be face to face and talk when we are too busy to meet.”

Catra’s ears shoot straight up. “You wanna do that with me?”

Adora bites her lip and nods shyly. “I didn’t get a phone until I got out of the home and I only use it to keep in contact with a couple people. And I know this is a lot for you, but it be nice to see more of you. Not—like that!” she explains in a panic. “Just, like, hanging out and stuff.” Her heart is about to explode at what she just insinuated and the look on Catra’s face has her ready to bolt for the door. 

She knows what Adora meant, but the innuendo was still there and it’s making Catra sweat. To see more of Adora, in any sense, makes Catra weak in the knees. Hell, she might melt through the floor. 

“Yeah,” Catra rasps out and drinks some water before adding on, “yeah, that could be fun. I like talking… to you.”

A beaming smile takes over Adora’s face. “Heh, awesome.”

They split the bill, because both want to pay for dinner and argue for several minutes before they finally agree to disagree. 

Walking home, hand in hand, the two come to the intersection where they have to part ways. 

“Text me when you get home?” Adora asks into the space between them, holding both of Catra’s hands. 

With a nod and soft smile, Catra tells her, “I’ll facetime you.” Then winks, setting Adora’s stomach on fire, then kisses her, thus lighting the rest of her body alight. “See you in a bit, princess.”

“Uh-huh. Yeah,” she mutters and watches Catra sway her hips around the corner. 

()()()

Catra bolted home the second she turned the corner. So full of glee and excitement to facetime. It’s not something she ever thought she would do with someone. Kyle does it all the time with his friends and it annoys Catra. Being able to hear and see what is going on in an obviously private conversation is just weird. It doesn’t make sense to her to have to chat so personally when you can just text or have a quick call over the phone for something important. 

But being able to see and hear Adora when she isn’t near, well, the thought gives her butterflies. She is both nervous and anxious to see her again so soon after their date. 

She runs up the stairs and uses the bathroom to freshen up and get ready for bed, tidying up her space in case Adora sees it in the background. Catra puts on her headphones and plugs her phone in. Rogelio is cleaning the last of the dishes before he heads to bed as well for the night so she should have the rest of the house to herself for privacy. 

When she lays down, she decides to wait a few minutes before texting Adora. She doesn’t want to come off as clingy or pushy. This was Adora’s idea, after all. 

Catra: hey, princess. make it home alive?

An immediate reply makes Catra merp. 

Adora: just got in bed! 

Adora: do you still want to talk?

Catra just knows she is nervous from how many times the text bubble came up and decides to take the power of the situation into her own hands. It takes her a while to find the Facetime app before she remembers she can search it and calls Adora. As the phone rings, Catra gets into a decent position that makes her look the most…good. 

Adora picks up after the third ring and the screen fills with her beaming smile. Catra returns it and Adora waves like a dork. 

“Hi,” she says softly, like she is whispering. Does she share a room with someone? Her nervousness is palatable. Catra wonders why but doesn’t want to push her; she’s nervous too. She can only see Adora’s face. The rest of the room is pitch black— wait. Is she under a blanket? Maybe she’s cold. 

“Hey you,” Catra calls back. 

Adora adjusts herself so the camera is a little further away from her face so Catra can see her chest. Wired headphones string from her ears. Meanwhile, Catra is on her back, holding the phone above her as she wears her hybrid style earbuds that she got as a gift from Rogelio last year. They’re wireless and incredibly comfortable in her ears. 

Clearing her throat, Adora just smiles back as the two stare at each other. “I had a really good time tonight.”

“Me too. You will have to pick the next place.”

“Okay, but only if I get to pay for your meal this time,” Adora fires back with a stern finger. 

Catra rolls her eyes with a huff. “Fine. The food better be good.”

“Deal,” she grins. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“It’s a sunday, so I will probably sleep in then go for a run. I have some errands to run and then I’m going to help Lonnie in the shop.”

“Do you like helping with the smoothies?”

Catra shrugs. “I kind of owe them for letting me live here so I don’t mind. All the combined smells of the food bug my nose but it’s fine. What are you up to tomorrow?”

Rubbing her chin, Adora thinks it over. “First I will hit the— I mean, get breakfast first thing and then go to the gym,” she says and Catra wonders what she meant to say, “and get some new shoes. Mine are falling apart and giving me pain in my knees. Then I’m going to a friend's house for an early dinner.”

The conversation flowed from there. Discussing their days and when they hope to see each other next. 

Just above Adora’s head, on a shelf, two eyes glowed in the night. 

Chapter Text

They meet nearly everyday for a week and soon the two can only think about each other. So much so they can’t focus at work and life in general. It’s scary how fast the two have become attached. There’s a pull between them and it’s agonizing to fight it. 

Getting lost in thought at the gas station, Catra almost over fills her piece of shit 2 door car with gas. She pulls out the pump just in time before she hits $12; knowing she can’t spend too much this week since she needs another oil change. On her way to work, she doesn’t hear the exhaust rattling or the thumping in her dashboard, she only hears Adora’s voice, her laugh. Catra catches herself smiling and scowls for being distracted. Her mothers raised her to be laser focused at all times, to always think ahead and use cunning to get by. Today is not one of those habitual days. 

Catra stumbles on the pipes at work and almost drills through her fingers because she is still distracted and clouded with Adora. 

“De Leon!” Her boss shouts. “What is with you today?” Coming down from the pipes for a quick break, Catra ignores the looks she is given. She’s one of their top employees and she’s acting like a total rookie with these slip ups. 

“Sorry, sir,” Catra mumbles. “Just need another cup of coffee,” she lies and heads to the break room. 

“Get it together or I’m sending you home before I need to fill out workers compensation forms.”

That sends a shock to Catra’s system. If she gets injured then she’s done for. No fall back job and no money to handle such expenses. 

“Adora, you’re going to be the death of me,” she mutters to herself and has to chastise herself for smiling when she says her name. 

A wave in her trajectory, it’s Rogelio getting her attention. “Are you alright?”

He works the morning shifts out on the job sites 4 days a week or when needed before heading home to help with the business. It’s nice having a familiar face at work, but it also means she can’t get privacy from her roommates.

Catra shrugs him off. It’s better no one knows she is a clumsy fool when it comes to a girl. “Just didn’t get enough sleep.”

Rogelio gives her a smug brow. “It’s okay to think about her.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Knocks back a cup of coffee and strides back out the door before Rogelio can interrogate her anymore. 

“Armstrong!” Huntara yells. “Hit harder! What are these weak punches?”

“Sorry ma’am!” Adora responds and increases her strength. 

“Now you’re just sloppy! Alright, stop— stop. That’s enough,” her coach orders. “Take five, kid.”

Adora nods and takes off her gloves to sit down and drink some water. She towels off her face and chest and looks up to see Huntara giving her a questioning look. 

“It’s Catra.”

Adora jolts. “W-what? What about Catra? Is she here?” she asks and looks around the gym. 

“Oh, spirits. You’re into her,” Huntara groans and shakes her head, making Adora blush and sputter. 

“Psshhhh…”

“Don’t lie to me, she’s all you can think about, huh?”

Shit. “Y-yeah,” she admits quietly. “I think there’s something wrong with me.”

Huntara laughs. “Nothing wrong with you, you’re just in lo—- uh— you really like her.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a crush on someone before, nor have I ever liked someone this much.” Weaver always said relationships were a distraction and would only hold her back from perfection. In her head, she hears Weaver’s voice and shivers. 

Huntara raises a brow at that. “Not surprising. You’re a First One, aren’t you? When you care about someone, they become very important to you.”

“Wait— really?” Adora is surprised. She never got to learn about herself in the home. Following her instincts always got her in trouble. 

“Yeah, so here is what we are going to do,” Huntara starts and waves Adora to stand up. “You’re going to channel those emotions and let them drive you through your workout.”

“I like the sound of that,” Adora beams and feels warmth in her chest for being allowed to feel. 

()()()

It’s a Saturday and Catra has to do some last minute work on a project so Adora is meeting her for lunch nearby. A question has been weighing on Catra’s mind for a while now. She’s been in relationships before, although they were short lived and didn’t get far and never earned the title of ‘girlfriends’. But with Adora, she sees the way she smiles and laughs, the way her eyes wander when she sees something and her hands always need something to touch. It all makes Catra feel so protective. Yes, Adora has been through a lot, and Adora can handle herself, but that is what Catra worries about the most. The world is cruel and Adora can fight it, but her primary concern comes from protecting Adora from herself. 

Adora is more intelligent than she gives herself credit for and it shows in how quick of a learner she is. But Catra can see the aloofness in her distracted personality. How easily some things can make her stumble and Catra wants to be the arms she falls into every time. 

The girl is sturdy and capable, yet Catra sees those cracks when she looks over her shoulder or stiffens at a touch. Catra has never felt so driven to protect someone and cherish such a person as genuine and kind as Adora. 

Adora catches Catra staring at her and swallows her food to smile at her with a question in her eye. It’s the cocky raise of her brow that gives Catra the courage to reach out. 

“Adora, do you want to be my girlfriend?” The blonde freezes.

She’s been staring at Catra for a long, long time and a bug has probably flown into her mouth. Catra looks scared and ready to be sick. That snaps Adora out of her stupor. 

“Yes! S-sorry! Yes. Yes, I want to be your… your girlfriend.” The word sets her body on fire 

Catra damn near fainted but now she wants to faint for a new reason. “Yeah?”

Her whole life, Catra has never had a girlfriend. She’s dated plenty but never felt a connection strong enough to earn the title, but with Adora she doesn’t think she can go another day without being able to say Adora is hers. She rehearsed all night how she would ask her and when, and ultimately decided it never would be a good time and just went for it. 

“Yeah,” Adora says gently, wistfully. “Girlfriends. I’ve never had one before.” Catra could sob. 

They’re out getting sandwiches around the corner from Adora’s place. Catra has yet to see her apartment and only knows the general vicinity. Adora says it’s because her place is messy and she is embarrassed, but Catra doesn’t think that’s true. She doesn’t press the matter and simply takes her hand. 

“It’s fun, and stuff.”

“Stuff…” Adora repeats with smugness. Catra rolls her eyes and swallows the bite of her food. This girl is more closeted than she thought.

“We basically do what we have been doing. Except now, it means more. Because we only do certain things with each other. I mean— unless you’re not into monogamy.”

“I prefer monogamy, actually. And the stuff we would only do together is stuff like… you know,” she says with an awkward chuckle and twirl of her finger. “That stuff, stuff.”

Catra smiles at her, she’s so cute. “Yeah, that stuff. As well as dates and making out and things.” Adora nods her head. 

“So not much different from what we have been doing?”

“Pretty much the same except with a title that tells people ‘fuck off, she’s mine’.”

And wow, does Adora love how Catra says that. “I-I like that. Being each other's.”

Catra sighs with relief. “Good.”

They chat a bit more and then it’s time for Catra to take back off for work. 

“See you tomorrow?” Adora asks with so much hope and Catra kisses her deeply. Catra always wants Adora to have hope and to give it to her every time. 

“Tomorrow.”

The following day, Adora came by and Catra dragged her upstairs for them to kiss each other breathless. Adora is straddling Catra as they sit on the couch, a position she has never found herself in before and feels dizzy. She isn’t sure if it’s a good or bad thing and she goes to lean back to catch her breath a bit too suddenly, and Catra thinks she’s about to fall out of her lap. 

To keep her in place, Catra’s claws come out a bit with instinctual panic and Adora rips out a high whine at the sensation, sending her already dizzy brain into a tailspin. The sound shoots straight between Catra’s legs. Adroa clutches to Catra.

“You okay, princess?” she whispers with some difficulty and feels Adora hide her face in her neck, nodding her head a bit. 

“What just happened?” She sounds scared and Catra pulls her closer, wrapping her arms around her back to hold her close and comfort her. 

“Did I hurt you?”

“….No.”

Catra swallows. “Did you like it?”

For a long moment, Adora is quiet. “I think so.”

She rubs Adora’s back and kisses her cheek. “It’s okay if you did.”

“It- uh— wasn’t weird?” she asks quietly, not moving from her position. 

“Not at all,” Catra says, running her fingers through her blonde hair. “Actually, it was kind of hot.”

Adora huffs a laugh and leans back to glare at Catra but it’s weakened by her smile. She’s full of nerves but also calmed by Catra’s touch. It feels unfair to be the only one flustered. “Funny how your first instinct was to grab my ass.”

Catra slides her hands down and gropes her rear. “What can I say? You got a great ass, Adora. And spandex? You’re trying to kill me.”

Her face goes bright red but she refuses to go down to such a sexy, cocky magicat. “So, you’ve been staring at me today? What else did you see? Something you like?” Where is this coming from? This banter is unlocking a place deep within her and it’s exhilarating. Catra is staring at her with heavy breaths. “Hm? Kitty cat?”

Catra growls lowly but Adora doesn’t stand down. In fact, it only makes her feel stronger and more determined. 

“Better watch your tone, princess. This kitty has claws,” Catra threatens and slightly unsheathes her claws to nip at Adora’s thighs. 

Everything inside her is pure molten lava and it takes everything in her not to cave and somehow bites back on a whimper. Catra is so unfairly hot that it makes her clit pulsate with need against her wet briefs. She sits up a bit taller, cups her cheeks, and kisses her fiercely. If words won’t shut her up, then she will use force. Catra trills at the sudden act and melts when Adora starts scratching her ears. 

“Low blow,” Catra mutters against her lips and bites at Adora’s lower lip, and this time she does cry out with involuntary thrust of her crotch into Catra’s. “You need me, don’t you, baby?”

And Adora’s fucking done. She needs something she’s never had before. Her walls clench on nothing, searching for something to fill them and complete her like the final puzzle piece. 

“I can hear you thinking,” Catra says after a moment. “What’s on your mind?” she asks as things settle down and rubs her sides. 

“I’ve never done this before,” she rushes out and makes quick, bashful eye contact with Catra who looks at her with awe. 

“I haven’t either.”

Adora’s head snaps up. “Wait— really? But you— you—“

“Seem to know what i’m doing?” Catra finishes and Adora nods. “It comes down to the clothes coming off and then I freeze,” she admits with her ears pressed to her head. Strangely, she feels okay admitting these things with Adora. It feels instinctual. 

The moment is thick between them but Adora can’t help but ask with a smirk, “So I'm a unique case?”

Catra rolls her eyes and her tail thwaps against the couch. “Don’t let your head get any bigger than it already is.” Adora snorts and absent mindedly adjusts her hair poof to which Catra tussles. “I know what I like, it’s just getting past that wall of trust that is so difficult for me. But you are so easy to trust. To give in to. I’m mostly afraid I’m going to hurt you,” she explains, gesturing to her claws and fangs. She recalls how many times she got in trouble for simply being a magicat. Adora sees the light gleam off her claws and fangs. Her body lights up with electricity at the sight and sees Catra take a deep breath of the air, and then her pupils dilate and she’s purring. Adora hasn’t heard her purr yet and it’s exquisite. 

“Adora, I can smell how turned on you are.”

That does it. 

“Then do something about it already.”

With ease, Catra flips their bodies until she has Adora pinned beneath her. “Stay here and don’t move an inch,” she commands and Adora feels her eyes prepare to roll into the back of her head as she sinks into the couch at the commanding tone.

Catra gets up and skids to the front door, putting something on the handle and locking it and sauntering back to Adora where the blonde watches her with darkening eyes. She’s sweating with vibrating arousal but Catra told her not to move, so she won’t. 

Creeping up like a predator, Catra scans her muscular body from where her muscles stretch the spandex of her athletic clothes. Surely, she tastes divine. Already she looks like food served on a platter and all Catra has to do is dive into her meal. Who knew someone so huge could be such a bottom? 

“Good girl.” Adora involuntarily thrusts her hips and she instantly goes red at the motion. “Who gave you permission to move?”

“No one.”

Finally, Catra reaches her and crawls over the top of her, stroking her hair and kissing her cheeks. “You like listening to me? Obeying me? Adora?”

“Y-yeah,” she stammers and wonders why this all feels so, so good. It makes her shake a bit. “Catra?”

The tone of her voice brings Catra out of her head space. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah! im fine! Amazing, actually,” she adds on quietly. “I just am confused why i feel so… floaty? And dizzy? Like my body is heavy but— but my brain isn’t?”

Laying fully on top of Adora to ground her and bring her back to the present, Catra runs her thumb over her eyebrow as she speaks to her in the sweetest tone. “Do you know what BDSM is?”

“Catra, I’ve watched porn, like, twice in my life.”

“Have you touched yourself? Uh—“ Catra stops and back tracks, “Sorry if that’s too personal.” Adora hugs her to her chest and shakes her head. 

“Not at all. It’s just that… being homeschooled meant my foster parent decided what I should learn and sex education wasn’t one of them. That I shouldn’t worry about those things when grades and being the best at everything else was so much more important. Catra, you make me feel like a whole different person. I want to explore these things with you. I’m finally free of that house and my friends have helped me realize what all I was hidden from. So, no, I do not know what BDSM is and I’ve touched myself a few times.”

Catra leans up and kisses her, helping Adora relax. “Well it’s a good thing you know Huntara,” she tells her and Adora furrows her brows. 

“Why’s that?”

She chuckles, darkly, and it makes Adora’s body sing. Leaning over her again, Catra trails her claw along Adora’s jawline and licks her lips. “Huntara hosts these events called Munches. And that is where people like you and me meet to explore our sexier sides. For example, why you like being told what to do.”

“I’m kind of following.”

“Good girl, now, Adora? There is sex, and there is sex.”

Adora smiles with a dirty look in her eye. “What’s the difference?”

“Let me show you. Are you free this Friday night?”

“I should be, yeah,” she answers and Catra pulls out her phone.

“I’m sending you an invite for this event, I want you to RSVP to it. Are you comfortable with that?”

Adora feels herself flush all over. Is she really about to go and meet people and talk about BDSM? Yes. Yes she is. 

When the invite is sent, Catra puts her phone away and leans back over Adora, who is still obedient against the bed. The sight makes Catra soak herself. 

“Adora, do you want me to fuck you?” Catra asks and sees Adora fidget. “Please be honest.” She strokes her cheeks to settle her and Adora let’s out a big breath. 

Adora closes and opens her eyes with a blush. “Can we go to the munch first? I’m more nervous than I thought.”

Catra nods and kisses her. “That’s fine, baby. Can we talk about why you’re so nervous?”

“It has nothing to do with you,” Adora says with a stern tone. “I’m just not really comfy with that side of myself yet. It’s why I don’t touch myself that often.”

“What if I was there with you when you did?” Catra suggests softly, an idea coming to mind. Adora’s eyes go wide and her face reddens. After a moment she nods. 

Adora looks away, bashful. “Can I keep my clothes on?” she asks quietly, almost scared. 

Catra gives her a warm smile to comfort her. “Of course. We don’t even have to do this today if you don’t want to.”

“No, I want to,” she says and begins to adjust herself, far too horny to go another moment without Catra touching her in some way. “Can you hold me from behind?” The two position themselves and Catra turns on the TV and throws a blanket over them, covering Adora as much as she can to keep her comfortable. 

Adora leans back into Catra’s relaxing embrace and begins to undo her pants and skids them down far enough she can get her hand between her legs. Shit, she thinks, I’m really wet from earlier. She gathers the wetness with her fingers and begins to swirl her clit and immediately jolts from the sensation. It’s been a while and she forgot how amazing this feels. Her libido spikes when she hears Catra take in a deep breath. 

“You smell amazing,” Catra murmurs, holding her closer. Adora whimpers and circles her clit a bit faster and sees Catra’s tail thrash in her peripheral vision, obviously turned on by the show. “Can I touch your tits?” she then asks as her hands spasm against where they hold Adora by the abdomen. 

Adora doesn’t hesitate to nod and Catra fondles her chest. “ More,” Adora whines out as she quickly reaches her peak. 

Catra hastily gets her hands under shirt. “Is this ok-“

“Yes, oh my gods, please—“

Swiftly, Catra gets her hands directly on Adora’s chest and fuck they fit perfectly in her hands. She flicks, twists, and tugs on her nipples, eliciting every sound she can from the blonde who’s hand is moving faster against her core. 

“Don’t stop,” Adora moans out and her back begins to arch. Catra begins sucking and biting on her neck. When her fangs prick the sensitive skin there, Adora cries out and cums, twitching and shaking as she curls in on herself, riding out her orgasm. 

After a few moments her drenched hand comes out from beneath covers and Catra removes her hands from under her shirt to properly cuddle Adora. 

“How’re you feeling?” Catra asks, already knowing the answer. Adora hums in response as she wipes her hand on her shirt. 

“Good. Really good,” is the barely conscious response and Catra snickers, pulling her down to the bed for cuddles and kisses. 

“Seems that way. You were gorgeous and your tits. Fuck they are great.”

Adora giggles tiredly. “You were perfect. I don’t think i’ve ever cum that hard before,” she notes, resting her nose in the crook of Catra’s neck to be held. 

“Oh, Adora, you have no idea how hard I could make you come,” she teases and Adora chuckles. 

“I don’t doubt it,” she says and kisses her cheek, getting a purr from Catra. Score. “Thank you for that.”

Catra purrs louder. “Anytime.”

Adora feels like she’s on cloud nine. Then it hits her that sex can go further and further on a scale intensity. And she’s fucking excited. 

Chapter Text

Catra has been to munches before. She’s never gone into one of the rooms but she has been a moderator and host. Taking that extra step, as confident as she may appear, was always the hardest part. Showing herself in such an intimate way with someone who she instinctively knows won’t be in her life forever was something that always felt wrong. 

That is until she met Adora. Every magicat gene within her tells her it’s safe to be open and true with her. It scares her a whole lot. Almost like taboo to listen to that portion of her being. 

The doors open and the auditorium floods with people. Adora feels herself sweat and she has to grab Catra’s hand for support where they sit at the ticket booth to scan and confirm everyone who signed up for the event. 

“Settle down, princess,” Catra whispers with a snicker. 

Adora is enamored, horny, and down right exasperated. But she is having fun. Each person walks in wearing typical clothes, but once they walk inside, the clothes come off and get comfortable and Adora learns what Catra meant about there being no modesty. Huntara hosts these events with freedom in mind, which isn’t very common apparently. 

Some people wear collars, some of which have leashes, while others choose to wear leather or latex. There are people, who Adora is learning are dominants, occasionally have whips, canes, paddles, and even remote controls. 

“Why are there remotes? What are we watching?” Adora asks and Catra snorts. 

“Those remotes control toys which are most likely… uh… inside of their partner.”

Adora swallows at the word inside . Then she has to swallow again when she understands the dynamic between the couples and pairs of partners. She also notices some come in larger groups. It takes everything in Adora to keep her voice steady as she greets each guest and scans their ticket. 

“Is this too much?” Catra asks when Adora gets quiet and robotic. Adora turns to face her and Catra only sees desire. 

“N-no. I’m just surprised and… excited, I think. Thoughts are hard right now.”

“You’re going to be a puddle when we close the doors and head inside.”

Adora wiggles in her seat. Can she handle it?

She really can’t. The doors are closed and they head inside to the main floor. She is having to remind herself to breathe as she takes in the room. Easily, Adora can clearly see who the couples are from now they stick to one another. The possessive, protective holds they have on each other. Her skin tingles at the thought of Catra holding her so possessively. 

Catra nudges her shoulder. “Hey, if this gets too much or you’re uncomfortable, let me know and we will get out of here, okay?”

She takes in a deep breath and links their fingers. “Yes ma’am. But I want to do this,” she smirks to mask her nerves. 

“You want to meet some of the couples?” Catra asks and Adora fidgets as she thinks it over. 

“Yeah, as long as you are with me,” she says with a nod. Catra puts an arm around her waist and rubs her hip. The feeling instantly calms Adora. Catra purrs at the sight and holds her close. 

“If things get overwhelming, I want you to scratch the back of my neck,” Catra orders and Adora is grateful. Having to say the words would be a bit embarrassing. 

Adora nods and kisses her cheek. “Thank you.”

Catra leads them to a couple who is chatting with someone who looks new to everything. 

“Hey, guys, mind if we join you?” Catra asks, making the three people turn to face them. 

The third person says, “I was actually just leaving!” Then faces the couple. “Thank you both, I really appreciate it.” They shake hands and they walk off, leaving the couple to fully face Catra and Adora. 

“Catra!” the taller woman greets. “It is so nice to see you.”

“Hey, Cat, haven’t seen you at one of these in a while,” the other woman says. 

“Happy to be here. Adora? This is Spinnerella and Netossa,” she introduces and points to each woman who gives Adora warm smiles. “And guys, this is Adora, my girlfriend.”

“Well, well, well, back in the dating scene?” Netossa jabs and Catra rolls her eyes. “It’s nice to meet you, Adora.”

Spinnerella gives her partner a look before looking at Adora. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Adora. You can call me Spinny.”

Adora smiles and shakes her hand. “Likewise.”

“I thought we would come see you guys. Adora is pretty new to this stuff and I figured you guys would be the best to get her introduced to everything.”

The blonde flushes a bit and instantly regrets not having a notepad and pencil to take notes. Then she remembers she has her phone. Catra sees her open her mouth and then closes it. 

She puts a reassuring hand on her lower back and gently scratches her spine. “Say what you want to.”

Adora is a bit flustered but sees only welcoming eyes and friendliness from the other couple with them. She clears her throat and asks, “Can I record what we talk about? Is that weird? I just want to make sure I don’t forget anything.”

Netossa chuckles and Spinny gives her a warm look. “Of course you can, sweetheart. Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable.”

“Let’s get a table,” Netossa suggests and the four sit down and order some drinks and chips. 

Catra keeps her tail in Adora’s lap for her to fidget with and soothe herself. 

()()()

Adora is trembling by the time they get back to the car. They spent hours talking to Spinnerella and Netossa. It was mind blowing and also a major eye opener and she made a note to listen to the recording again and make time stamps of certain definitions and terms she wants to look over again and study more. 

Then…someone popped into their group just as Spinny was explaining what a “rope bunny” is. Their name was Double Trouble. And Adora was not ready for what happened next. 

DT runs underground exhibitions. Or, as Catra put it, a Sex Dungeon. 

The term sends shivers down Adora’s spine every time she thinks about it. A room just for sex, kinky sex. Adora grips the car door handle. 

Catra sees Adora tense and gets worried. “Are you okay over there?”

“Mhm! Fine!”

That only further concerns Catra. “Adora?” She hears her take a shaky breath. 

“Sorry. I’m just… feeling a lot of things. Nothing bad! Just, ya know, worked up,” she explains with a chuckle. 

Catra chuckles with her. “I am too. Driving is a task at the moment.”

“Did you want to do something about it?” Adora whispers after a moment. She fidgets in her seat and keeps an eye on her breathing. Okay, she’s nervous if they do finally have sex, but she also really wants to be taken right now, and fast. 

Gripping the wheel harder, Catra says, “Don’t say that unless you mean it, Adora. I don’t think I can control myself right now.”

And, wow, does that light Adora up like a firework. “I need you to fuck me.” Adora didn’t think she would ever utter such words, but she is now. After everything she learned today about herself and Catra, she needs more. She needs to be dominated in some way.

When they park, they sprint up the stairs and slam Catra’s door shut. Everyone is working downstairs in the shop so they know they have time and privacy. Catra immediately presses Adora’s back to the door and kisses her with pure hunger. 

Adora wraps her arm around Catra’s neck as the magicat grinds into her roughly. Adora can’t stop whining. Then Catra grabs her by the hips and guides her to the couch and lays her back. 

“We‘ll take it easy and will stop whenever you want to,” Catra directs her as Adora gets more comfy on the couch and she nods her affirmation, but Catra sighs. “I’m going to need you to speak, Adora. I know how you clam up, but I want to hear you, if that’s okay.”

“Okay. I can do that,” she agrees, out of breath, and Catra relaxes. 

“Thank you,” the magicat whispers, a phrase Adora hasn’t heard very often since meeting Catra, and kisses her lips. “Can I touch your chest?”

Learning about Adora’s past with Weaver made Catra realize why Adora has so many intense fears and traumatic responses. It explains why she doesn’t know how to speak for herself. She wants to take things as slow as possible for her. She is going to ask for her permission every step of the way.

“Yes,” she answers after a shaky breath. Catra kisses her again and glides her hand along Adora’s sides, eliciting a sweet sigh from the blonde. 

Catra cups her breasts and massages them, making Adora moan and grind against her stomach. Searching for her nipples through her thick sports bra, she finally finds them and lightly pinches them, and Adora’s eyes go wide with energy. 

“Okay?” Catra asks, eyes wide. 

“Don’t stop,” she moans and Catra doesn’t have to be told twice.

Catra keeps kissing her neck as she works her nipples. Slowly, she slides one hand down to the hem of Adora’s shirt and carefully touches the soft, taught flesh there. Adora nods with a moan and Catra grazes her hands up and presses her fingers underneath the band of her bra. 

A loud gasp fills the room as Adora feels Catra’s palm on her breast. Catra captures her lips and flicks her nipple, over and over. Each flick elicits a sharp cry from the blonde.  Adora is flooding her pants and Catra can smell it— feel it against her thigh. Fuck. Catra needs her so bad but she can’t let herself go just yet. She wants Adora to have every chance to stop this. 

“Catra I need more. I need you to do more,” she enunciates with a roll of her hips and throws her head back, arms up. Catra can’t fucking breathe. She’s beautiful. She’s submitting. 

Catra leans into her ear, panting, “I’m going to fuck you until the couch breaks. If there is something you want to stop, just say the word. Got it?”

Adora recalls the discussion from today. Right now, Catra is using her domme voice. 

“ Now, every dominant has pronouns and terms they prefer,” Spinny explained. “Catra?”

The magicat holds Adora tighter to her side. “I prefer masculine terms. I like to be called ‘Sir’. There’s something about the gender expression that makes me feel more powerful.”

“Yes sir,” Adora moans and rolls her pelvis again. “Fuck me, sir.”

Catra snarls and begins removing her clothing. “Get naked, now.” Adora obeys and removes every inch of clothing as fast as she can. The second they are both nude, the two collide with tongue and hands. 

Slowly, Catra’s hand inches towards Adora’s aching heat. She palms her pussy and feels every inch of Adora, how wet she is. The untrimmed hair and pulsing of her clit. Catra wants to feel every part of her, make her feel good. 

“I want to be inside you,” Catra says against her panting lips. 

“I want you inside me, too. Need you to fuck me, sir,” she begs with a moan and shuddering breath. Catra kisses her fiercely. 

“Let me know if it hurts too much, okay? I’ll be gentle.”

Adora has only ever rubbed her clit on the few times she has masturbated. But this will be the first time she has felt anything inside of herself. Catra makes sure to get her fingers wet and waits for the affirmative nod from Adora. She cries when Catra stops teasing her nub to press a finger inside and curls. 

“Oh my god— oh— Catra—!”

Catra growls and works in another finger after she loosens up and Adora can’t stop whimpering at the feeling of having Catra inside her, filling her. 

“You feel so fucking good, baby. You’re so warm, so wet and making such pretty noises. Fuck.” This isn’t Catra’s first time fingering a girl, and she’s had plenty of practice on herself, and she is happy to know that she is as skilled with someone else as she is by herself. “I want them to hear you downstairs,” she demands and thrusts harder into her core. 

Adora shouts a curse and feels her breasts bouncing, sweat dripping, walls clenching. 

“Catra, don’t stop,” the blonde whines with a gasp. She feels like she is losing her mind in the best way possible. Catra pulls one of her tits into her mouth and bites and sucks as she fucks her. Adora is so open and vulnerable that Catra can do whatever she wants. She is quivering in her arms as she reaches her peak. 

“I’m going to eat you out.” Adora nods and whimpers and spreads her legs. She’s embarrassed, being so openly on display, but all that disappears when she sees the hunger in Catra’s eyes. 

She sinks down and doesn’t wait to begin licking up her juices and Adora instantly gushes into her mouth. The sensation of her tongue makes Adora actually cry and sob. 

“Fuck—- amazing— don—don’t stop, please!”

Catra pushes two fingers back inside and flicks her tongue over her clit, making the blonde clamp her thighs around her head.

Holy fuck, Catra thinks. Adora tastes exquisite and raw and so Adora that Catra swallows every flood of sex that Adora gives her. Catra never thought someone could taste so good and sexy and perfect. She’s heard so many people complain about their partner's natural cum but Catra knows she won’t be in their boat. Adora is delectable. 

It’s clumsy as Catra learns what makes Adora grow closer to her peak, but she’s always been a fast learner. She absorbs every moan and twitch from her girl and applies it with every ounce of her aching fingers and jaw. Adora needs it rough and fast, and Catra delivers. Tears are in Adora’s eyes and shakes with her orgasm. 

She licks until Adora’s hips pull away and her breathing becomes deep and desperate. Catra stays between her legs, breathing her in, and then she hears Adora mumble something. 

“Say what?” Catra asks as she licks her lips. 

“Hold me?”

Catra crawls from her spot to lay on top of Adora and kisses her. Adora moans into her mouth and Catra slips her tongue in. 

“Taste that?”

“Is that me?”

“uh-huh. You taste so good, princess.”

Adora pulls her tighter to her chest, kissing her much deeper. “Wow.” Catra snickers. “I wonder what you taste like.”

That makes Catra cock a brow, masking how nervous that makes her. No one has ever fucked Catra before, but she trusts Adora. “Yeah? Well let’s cuddle first, okay? You need a breather.”

“Mmmm’kay,” she replies sleepily. Catra snuggles in close and purrs as Adora rubs her ears. “Thank you. I’ve never felt that good in my life.” The praise sends straight to Catra’s core. 

“Have fun?” Catra asks, because checking in is the most important thing. Especially if it’s someone’s first time. 

“Yeah, I had a lot of fun,” Adora smirks and kisses her ear, making it flick adorably. “I really want to have fun again. With you.”

She snickers. “Don’t worry, you will, here in a moment. I just don’t need you passing out on me.”

“I do work out, you know. There’s a lot I can handle.”

“Like a round two, perhaps?” Catra suggests and nips at the skin above her breasts. 

Adora chuckles deeply and then moans. “Catra, I want you so bad.”

“How about this,” Catra starts and Adora stretches beneath her and gets more comfortable as Catra toys with her hair. “I show you how I like to be fucked, and then I fuck you how I want to fuck you. ”

“Fuck.” It’s all she can think to say. “I want to make you feel good.” It’s like a plea, like she is kneeling before someone and begging. And Catra feels her whole body catch fire. 

She wastes no time grabbing Adora’s wrist and guiding it to grab her breast. Then grips her other wrist and sits at the base of her pale stomach. “I’m going to ride your fingers and you are going to like it.”

“Yes sir,” she says eagerly with intense eye contact. Catra lowers herself down. 

“Keep this one finger up,” she instructs as she slips it inside and Catra could cry it feels so good having someone other than her own hand inside her walls. “Now curl the finger towards you.” Adora does and it sends electricity through her, making her tail go stiff with each small thrust. “Good girl. Add another, now.” Her words come out so shaken but she refuses to break eye contact with Adora. Not when the blonde is looking at her with such awe and filthy eyes. 

“Yes sir.” 

Another finger and Catra grabs the hand that is gripping her breast. “Squeeze.” She does and Catra whimpers as it adds to the piling sensations. “Now pinch and twist,” she growls and increases her thrusting against Adora. 

It doesn’t take Adora long to figure out what she needs to be doing. She does a combination of those few things to each breasts and watches Catra’s face for her reactions. 

“You’re amazing,” Adora breathes. Her hand is full of Catra’s perky, bouncing breasts and her other is drenched and flaming where it’s crammed into Catra as the magicat uses her for her own pleasure. “Fuck.”

“I know you want to look down. You’ve been so good at watching me,” she compliments.  “Now I want you to look down at the mess you made. Look down and see what you will have to clean up when I’m through with you.”

Adora whines at the thought of not being able to look at Catra’s stunning jawline and eyes, but she won’t disobey. She trails her eyes down her chest, and then to her soaking, pumping pussy. 

“Oh my gods ,” Adora moans as she takes in the sight. Her stomach is pooled with wet and Catra’s beautifully dusty pink folds grind against her palm with beautiful noises. The fur is lighter and less thick, making everything soft and plush against her hand. “ Catra, you are so beautiful.”

“I was going for sexy,” Catra retorts with a small blush, but it’s hidden from how sweaty she is. “But i’ll take that.”

Adora looks back up at Catra with ferocity. “I want to make you cum. Please.”

“Don’t take your eyes off me and I will.”

She never wavers with her eye contact and holds her hand firm inside Catra as the other twists her tits. After a few moments Catra’s thrusting becomes jagged and then her legs are quivering as she rides out sharp cries of pleasure into Adora’s ear. As she comes down, Adora holds her on instinct and Catra begins to purr as she pets down her back and tail. Adora licks up up her hand that was fingering Catra and feels her eyes burn at how great she tastes.

Catra gets her breathing under control and puts her mouth to Adora’s ear. “I know you need me to fuck you again, princess.”

“Yeah,” she says gruffly and feels her chest warm. “Please fuck me again, sir.” Gods, Adora never thought sex could be this much fun and liberating.

She chuckles deep within her chest and sits up as she crawls back and down Adora’s body. Two fingers slide back in with ease and Catra swirls her tongue and sucks until Adora is screaming again within minutes. She comes down and the two snuggle on Catra’s couch bed. Adora thinks about how amazing everything was, even as vanilla as it was, per Netossa’s definition. Thinking of the recording she took and all the things they covered today makes Adora both nervous and excited.

“Do you want to do all that kinky stuff with me?” Adora asks Catra who is laying on her chest. “All the BDSM stuff we covered today.” She's blushing as she asks Catra, because even the thought of Catra dominating her in that way has her seeing stars. But is she ready for it?

Catra doesn’t move from her spot as she responds. “I only want to do what you are comfortable with, and what I’m comfortable with. Some of that stuff can get intense and really scare people. But…yeah, I wanna explore that with you. Only thing is, my place is not ideal for that kind of play.”

Adora feels excited and then ashamed. “Yeah, neither is my place,” she says quietly, not wanting to dive into that conversation and changes topics. “What kind of stuff are you into? How did you know?”

Catra shrugs. “I can kinda guess from the porn I watch, but everything is different in real life. Plus, I’m only now getting to test all of this out for real. So, it’s going to be a lot of trial and error.”

She discusses her interests in bondage, pain, gags, blindfolds, crops, and orgasm control. All of it sounds amazing to Adora as she makes mental notes. How Catra hates humiliation and degradation and prefers praise and rewards. As well as collars and ownership over a submissive. 

Hearing Catra ponder about her interests has Adora’s heart ready to leap out of her chest. “I want to explore everything like that with you,” she says softly with her face buried in her mane. 

Catra snorts. “I’m glad the feeling is mutual. Just wish there was some place we could do it. Hotels are expensive and we would absolutely get a noise complaint.”

“True…” Adora says, trailing off. 

The two get dressed and cleaned up. A heated kiss is shared at the door as Adora says goodbye and heads out, very aware of her clit and ruined underwear. Wow, she thinks to herself and laughs and giggles like a child on christmas morning. She feels happy. 

When Adora gets home that night, she turns on the recording and starts taking notes. Little does she know, someone is taking notes on her. 

She hears a shuffle up above in the ceiling. It’s a small figure with glowing eyes. When she blinks, it’s gone. Adora blames it on her lack of sleep, but a gnawing thought scratches at the back of her mind. It couldn’t be. 

Chapter Text

It becomes a regular thing for them. There are at least two days out of the week that the two can meet and have privacy at Catra’s place for sex while the other roommates are working down in the shop. Post sex and cuddling, Catra asks a question that makes Adora swallow thickly.

“Do you think I’ll ever get to see your place, princess?” It’s an honest, innocent question that deserves an honest answer, but Adora is so scared. Don’t get her wrong, she trusts Catra, but this has to do with shame and what was expected of her. Suffering from highly unreasonable expectations has made Adora terrified of letting others see who she truly is. A failure that will let her friends down.

“I don’t have a place.”

Catra leans back from the hug they are in to look down at Adora with a concerned expression. “What does that mean?” Is Adora homeless? Where has she been sleeping? What is she putting herself through? Catra worries about the answer and softens her face when she sees how scared Adora is. “You can tell me. It’s okay.”

Adora nods but can’t look Catra in the eyes. “I live in a women’s shelter.”

“A shelter? Oh, Adora….” She curls back around her girlfriend and spreads kisses across her head as she rubs her back to soothe her when she smells the first hints of tears from Adora. 

“I’m sorry.” She doesn’t know why she apologizes but she does anyway. “I’m so ashamed of myself. I was going to tell you.”

“That’s nothing to apologize for. You are doing what you have to, to get by.” Adora sniffles and buries herself in Catra’s fluffy chest. “I was born in a homeless shelter,” Catra whispers and Adora makes a questioning sound as she pulls from her cozy spot to look at Catra. “Does me being born in a shelter make me any less of a person?”

Adora deflates at that. “Not at all.”

“You aren’t any less of someone because you need help, Adora. Please understand that.” It’s something Catra has learned about Adora since they met. How Adora just hides everything. She tries to act like there is nothing wrong, like if she pretends enough, then her facade will become reality. Catra feels like Adora is only letting go when they have sex. 

“I’ll try,” she says quietly and wants to cry for Catra. But she doesn’t need pity. Not when Catra has worked so hard to get where she is and from what Adora has learned of her past, it has been a lot. From her mothers being immigrants, suffering racism and violence and poor jobs to apparently being homeless with their first baby-- it has all been more than any one should go through. Rather, Adora holds her close and kisses her.

“Are you trying to save up for an apartment?” Catra asks as she strokes her cheek. Adora leans into the touch with a soft hum. 

“Yeah. I know some of my money is going towards the gym but Huntara has my membership discounted because she learned about where I was living when she saw me walk out of there one morning. I begged her not to discount me but she insisted as long as I helped around the gym after work. There is a cheap apartment a few blocks from here that I have been eyeballing for a while now but I need to work a few more months to feel really stable. All of my money has been going into my friend’s bank account so my foster mom won’t have access to it even if she tried.”

Catra hums along to what Adora says as she rubs her thigh to comfort her. “You’ll get there, baby. I know you will. Now, are you ready for some food? We got leftover chinese.”

Adora breathes a sigh of relief. Happy to be done with this conversation. “That sounds great.”

Their time together when they eat is something they both come to cherish. Neither can afford anything fancy so they spend a lot of time cooking, and they are both really good at it since they grew up very independent. Both of them challenge who can cook faster and it causes a lot of chaos in the kitchen that the trio often walk in on and join. They do as much as they can together. 

Catra will sometimes join Adora at the gym and the two will spar. It helps them learn all new things about each other like how they think and react to certain scenarios and how far they are willing to go to win. Catra has had her fair share of street fights and does her best not to play dirty with Adora who is a stickler for playing clean and by the rules. Adora goes for the heavy hits and throws her whole body into every punch while Catra keeps her distance with small hits that build in one area to wear her opponent down. 

They could go like this hours, neither one giving in or willing to back down.

“We close in 10 minutes, can we call it a tie?” Huntara begs as she puts away the last of the rags. Catra and Adora are both breathing heavy as they wipe sweat from their bodies.

“Sorry,” Adora says to Huntara and begins taking her gloves off. Huntara leaves the room to finish some paperwork and the two women on the mat don’t waste a moment to kiss and part their mouths to wrestle their tongues.

“Lets go before she finds us,” Catra giggles and bites Adora’s bottom lip before dragging her through the ropes and off the mat. Adora snorts with laughter as they throw their gloves and rags where they need to go and shout their departure. 

They race to Catra’s place and it’s late enough that the shop is closed so the trio is upstairs. When they get to the door to their loft, Catra presses her ear to it and listens to see if anyone is in the living room. She can hear the TV on and groans when she hears Kyle snickering.

She turns to face Adora with a roll of her eyes. “It’s a no go.” Adora pouts like a kicked puppy. “But that doesn’t mean it’s going to stop me.”

“I like it when you don’t let anything stop you,” she says and pulls Catra in for a searing kiss. “It’s so fucking hot.”

Catra chuckles dangerously as she drags Adora further down the hallway. “I don’t want Rogelio to hear you cum. I want all these noises just for me.” She stuffs her hand down Adora’s pants and toys her clit as she presses her into the wall and bites at her neck. “So be quiet.”

She fucks her until she comes apart around her fingers, making Adora almsot lose her balance. They breathe each other in, coming down, Catra hears the bedroom door shut.

“The coast is clear.” They move into the home as quietly as they can and head straight for the shower where they undress and bathe.

“I’ve never had shower sex before,” Adora giggles and wraps her arms around Catra’s shoulders to kiss her languidly.  Catra squeezes her ass as she kisses her back.

“All that working out got you riled up, princess.” She puts her hand back on Adora’s heat and slips two fingers in easily. “ Really riled up.”

Adora almost loses her balance again, nearly busting her head open when Catra fills her. With the layers off, Catra has easy access to her breasts and leaves marks, reestablishing marks from the one’s that have faded. She comes quickly and Adora holds Catra tight. “I want to taste you.”

“You may. Get on your knees and suck me off.” And, gods, does Adora love being ordered around like that. She wastes no time getting on her knees and pressing her tongue to Catra’s folds, groaning at the delicious taste.

Catra tugs on her hair and puts a leg up on the bar soap holder to give Adora easier access. Adora’s knees are screaming but the pain feels good. Water from the shower head mixes with Catra’s sex and she drinks it up greedily. It doesn’t take long for Catra to gush into her mouth and ride out her orgasm on her face with Adora’s tongue still deep inside her.

“Fuck, you are getting really good at that, baby.” Catra pulls her to her feet and licks up her face.

“I could eat you out all night,” she says with a drunk look in her eye. The two get to bathing and wash up. 

When they get out of the shower Adora puts on some of Catra’s clothing and looks ready to pass out right there as she inhales her scent. 

“Why don’t you stay the night?” Catra offers softly. “It’s really late and all.”

“Are you sure?” Adora asks with wide eyes and a worried expression.

Catra holds her hand. “You’re already in my clothes and my bed is right there. I wake up pretty early tomorrow so that will give you enough time to get you up and head to your place and get ready for work.”

Nodding, Adora says, “Yeah, yeah that sounds good. It takes me 10 minutes to walk to the shelter and about 15 minutes to get ready. Then it’s about a 20 minute bus ride to work. So, about an hour of time after I wake up should be perfect in case something happens.” She speaks all out loud to help herself mull it over and Catra finds it so endearing how thorough she is. “As long as I am awake by 7 am, everything should be perfect.”

“I have to be awake by 6:30 anyway so that will give you plenty of time. So, ready for bed?”

Adora takes her outstretched hand and the two head to bed. When they get under the covers, Adora wishes she could stay there with Catra in her arms. 

()()()

They smile the second they wake up and continue to smile throughout the day.  Neither of them having a night terror thanks to feeling safe for once. When Catra gets on break she sees several texts from Adora.

Adora: Hey Catra! Are you busy tonight?

Adora: Glimmer and Bow want to go on a double date and wants us to go with them. It would be at that fish place by the square. Say 6:30?

Adora: Unless you are too busy, then I can tell them to raincheck. No problem at all

Adora: Just let me know. I hope work is going well! :))

Catra grins like an idiot at her phone. Getting text messages from Adora always makes her feel all fuzzy and warm inside. She wonders if Adora feels the same way.

Catra: sounds like a plan princess. we can take the bus there. meet me at my place?

Adora drops everything she is doing when Catra responds. She almost squeals at Catra saying yes. Adora sends her a quick message back that the plan sounds perfect and she debates adding on a heart or kissy face emoji, but stops. She doesn’t want to be too much. As they have dated and come to know each other in this relationship, Adora has come to learn how difficult intimacy is for Catra. They kiss and have sex but when it comes to more vulnerable things like being open and honest with each other, Catra seems a bit more reluctant and shy about it.

Albeit Adora is terrified as well and is always one to get her hopes up, but Catra pulls it out of her. Adora wonders if she can get Catra to loosen up a bit more. She wants to hear more about her past and the things Catra won’t open up about. Like how sometimes Catra seems so lifeless when no one is looking and the pill bottles she finds in the trash can. Catra speaks about her parents and her job, but never about herself personally and her own experiences. 

It fills her with determination to be that anchor for Catra to help her be free to speak on certain things. Then Adora’s gut fills with guilt. She hasn’t exactly been honest with Catra. Yes, she has made Catra aware of the abuse she went through, but she hasn’t told her about how muddy her brain really is. She doesn’t want to scare Catra away, not when she feels so desperate for her. And that makes Adora think that maybe she and Catra are a lot more alike than they think.

Afterwork, Adora heads to the smoothie place and grabs a table to hang out at until Catra comes down. She lets her know she is here and a few minutes later Catra comes down the stairs in a casual button up and ripped jeans. Her eyes go wide just as Catra’s does because now Catra is caught staring at the low cut of Adora’s blouse and her tight white pants.

“You look so good,” Adora compliments breathlessly. Catra blushes then clears her face with a smirk that almost gives Adora whiplash with how fast she schools her expression.

“And you are stunning.” Catra comes up to her to give her a long kiss as she holds her jaw with one hand, the other sliding into Adora’s back pocket and squeezing her ass a little. It makes her gasp into the kiss. Catra pulls away and takes her hand. “Come on, we got a bus to catch. I’m starving.”

“Me too. I’ve been thinking about this restaurant's hush puppies all day.”

The two make it to the place and Adora goes up to the hostess. “We are meeting two other people here. Glimmer Brightmoon should be her name.”

“Ah, yes! She said you would be here soon. They are in the back, let me take you there.”

Catra has never met Adora’s friends, sure she has chatted with them over the phone when Catra will answer Adora’s phone for her, but she hasn’t really had a chance to truly get a sense of who they are. She won't admit it, but she is pretty nervous. This couple sounds like they have the perfect life and Catra is a nobody who has been thrown scraps her whole life. She doesn’t want them to think she is some toxic influence on Adora because of her temper and everything. She takes her meds as often as she can when she can afford refills, but it’s hard with such bad insurance. Today, she is thankful she took her pills or this could be a disaster, but she doesn’t need anyone knowing how fucked up she really is, especially Adora’s best friends.

The hostess leads them to the back and Catra spots two people waving at them with cheery smiles.

“Adora! Catra!” the two call out. 

“So glad you guys could make it,” Bow says and stands to hug Adora, as does Glimmer.

Adora comes back from the hugs to introduce Catra. “Thanks for inviting us.”

Catra wipes her hand before sticking it out to shake theirs. “It’s nice to finally meet you guys,” she greets lightly and is sent into a whirlwind when the two pull her in for a hug instead. Catra hisses on instinct and Bow jumps back.

“I’m so sorry! I should have asked,” he apologizes with so much heart it’s almost laughable. Catra is getting her breathing down and Glimmer gives her a shy smile.

“We are a little eager when it comes to Adora’s friends, especially you being her girlfriend.”

Catra blushes and curses herself for being so reactive, but shakes it off. Adora gives her a pained smile. “I should have warned you first. This is all my fault.”

“Don’t apologize,” Catra sighs and then collects herself. “I’m okay. Why don’t we sit?”

They all nod and take their seats and Catra let’s Adora slip into the booth first and Adora immediately holds her hand beneath the table. She gives it a small squeeze and Catra squeezes back, making Adora relax. 

“So, Catra,” Glimmer starts, “have you eaten here before?”

Catra shakes her head. “I haven’t. Don’t eat out too often, if I’m honest.” Eating out means having to wear nice clothes which Catra only has one pair of and spending money she can’t spend. 

“Totally fair,” Bow nods. “Does that mean you cook a lot?”

“Well the roommates I have are really into food. When they aren’t working they are making these huge nice meals in the kitchen. Living with them has a lot of props,” she chuckles and wonders if that makes her come off as lazy. “I work a lot and they eat a whole ton so they always have leftovers for me. I cook for them when I can,” she saves. 

Adora lights up, “Don’t let Catra fool you. She’s actually an amazing cook. The dinners that we have had always taste so good!”

Glimmer gives Adora a sad smile that she quickly turns into a friendly grin. Adora doesn’t see it, but Catra does. And she knows exactly what went through her mind. Adora didn’t grow up with lovely home cooked meals from Weaver or could afford going out. Not back in the home and not in the shelter either. Catra wonders how Adora would react to a 5 star steakhouse. ….And how bad of a cook Weaver was. She shivers at the thought. 

“What’s your favorite thing to cook?” Glimmer asks Catra. 

“Hmm, there was a dish my moms and I used to make together when I was a kid. It was this gnocchi recipe with basil and marinara. But we would add anchovies to the sauce for extra flavor with ricotta in the gnocchi.” 

Bow gives her star eyes. “That sounds delicious. Do you think we will ever get to taste your cooking?”

Catra smirks. “Maybe if you’ll pay me.”

“ Catra,” Adora admonishes with a soft glare. They both know she is kidding. Catra cackles a bit. 

“Fine, fine. I guess I will have to have you guys over sometime.”

“That would be so cool,” Glimmer squeals. “My family can’t cook for shit. So I love meeting people who have a taste for it. Sounds like cooking was a big thing in your family?” she inquires and Catra would rather take a butter knife to the face than answer that question. 

She’s quiet for a quick moment while she thinks of an escape answer, but Adora saves her. 

“I think eating with anyone is nice,” she says with a hard look at her friends that they quickly pick up on. “And i’m starving! So can we order, please?”

“Yes!” Bow says and waves down a waiter. 

They all order and get some appetizers and that unsettles Catra. She can’t pay extra for something she hardly has a large enough stomach for anyway. She just won’t eat it when it gets here so she can maybe get out of paying. But when the food comes, Adora dives in and Catra panics. 

Glimmer gives Catra an odd look. “The food is good, I promise. Here, have some of this,” she offers and hands Catra a piece of bread with a cheese fondue on it. Catra takes it and eats with a soft ‘thank you’. It’s fucking delcious. Glimmer snickers at her reaction. 

“What’s so funny, Sparkles,” she nearly growls and Adora gives her a wide eye look. Catra’s ears pin back and caves in on herself. But Glimmer is giggling furiously. 

“Your eyes nearly rolled into the back of your head! Told you this place has great food,” she says smugly with crossed arms and the tension disappears. 

Catra laughs awkwardly. “Like I said, don’t eat out much.”

Adora relaxes a bit. She knows Glimmer can handle some sass but Catra is more on edge than she thought and she can’t figure out why. Several reasons pop into mind and now she thinks Catra is just generally overwhelmed. Adora squeezes Catra’s thigh to calm her and it seems to work a little bit. 

Soon, their food shows up. And there is a noticeable difference in the type of food the two couple’s order. Glimmer and Bow have huge portions and A La Carte meals while Adora and Catra have small portions and soups. 

Thankfully, no one comments on it. 

They eat and Catra learns a lot about Glimmer and her family. She’s an only child who works for her parents company in insurance. Glimmer is supposed to inherit the company but she isn’t sure she wants to stick with it and that causes a lot of stress on her parents. 

Bow has several siblings and he works in 3D design for science technology for Dryl industries. Adora works for his two dads at the library they run. They’re both very successful and plan on getting married soon and starting a family. It makes Catra’s chest hurt. She’s happy for them, but it makes her feel like that version isn’t meant for her. Like it’s unreachable. 

“Dessert?” Glimmer begs the question and Bow immediately raises his hand in a vote. 

“I’m full, you guys get what you want,” Catra says, slumping in her seat for emphasis. 

Adora is damn near drooling as she looks at the dessert menu but shakes her head. “Yeah, I’m full too—“

“No you’re not,” Glimmer scoffs. “You aren’t even paying tonight! Our treat, okay?”

“Wait what ?” Catra asks them. “What do you mean you guys are paying for dinner?”

Adora looks just as confused and turns to Glimmer with a frown. “I’m sorry, Glimmer what?”

“Yeah,” she shrugs. “Our treat.”

Catra’s anger is building and it makes everyone at the table nervous. “I can handle myself, thank you for the offer,” she grunts out as kindly as possible. 

“This place’s owner is a good friend of my moms. He’s discounting our dinner tonight! It’s nothing we can’t handle,” Glimmer explains and now Catra is shaking. 

“‘ Its nothing we can’t handle’.” The sentence makes Catra feel sick. “Do you think I can’t handle myself? Huh? Glitter?”

Bow puts his hands up. “Woah, that is not what we are saying Catra. It did come off that way but that is not what we were implying at all.”

“Catra,” Adora says quietly with anger Catra hasn’t heard before. “Don’t speak to her that way.” She sounds like her mom. 

“Oh yeah? Then how did you mean it?” she barks at Glimmer who looks like a deer in headlights. She’s coming loose and can’t stop. 

“We are being treated tonight. And we dragged you guys out to this so yes we are paying. Adora, did you not tell Catra that we were paying tonight?”

“What do you mean? You never told me that.”

Glimmer pulls out her phone and checks her messages and then sighs, slapping her forehead. “My messages never sent.” And holds up her phone to show that what she just said was in the text bar for Adora. “I must’ve thought I clicked it and closed my phone before heading over here. I’m sorry.”

“Catra.” It’s Adora. Using that tone again. “Apologize. She didn’t know we didn’t know. It was a simple misunderstanding.”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” she says, low and dangerous as she burns holes into the table with her eyes. 

“It’s nothing to get mad about—“

“Don’t tell me how to feel,” her voice raises a bit too loud and people look. Catra looks up and Adora looks like she’s been slapped. Catra’s eyes go wide. 

She’s supposed to be better than this. Bow and Glimmer look incredibly uncomfortable. Calm down. She needs to calm down. Why is it so hard to calm down? Did she take the wrong pills?

“I’m using the bathroom.” Then hurries off to the back of the restaurant. She hears Adora call after her and Bow trying to stop her. 

When she gets in the bathroom, she is thankful it’s empty and begins splashing water on her face and scrubbing her skin. Like if she scrubs the anger will come off but she can’t settle down. Her hands shake and her breathing is deep and short. The door opens. 

“Catra?” She grips the sink and relishes in the pain that shoots through her claws as she tries to crack the porcelain. 

“Adora. I need 5 minutes,” she grounds out through clenched teeth. Her ears can hear the girl shuffling on her feet. “Please,” she says and looks over at Adora with low ears. 

Adora swallows and her voice comes out shaky and small. “Okay.” When she leaves, Catra wants to cry. She hurt Adora and ruined their evening. She feels so weak and stupid for letting herself get this worked up. Did she take the wrong medicine? Or is she that messed up in the head? The thought makes her panic a bit. 

She splashes more water on her face and stares at herself in the mirror. 

“Get a fucking grip.” Then schools her expressions and walks back to their table and sits down without looking up. She can smell the uncertainty at the table as they wait for her to speak. 

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

After a moment, she looks up to see everyone with a small smile on their face. 

“We forgive you,” Bow says. “It was a misunderstanding. We are really sorry for what we implied.”

“Yeah, apology accepted,” Glimmer agrees. “And we are totally getting dessert. Pick any food you like!”

Catra manages a grateful smile and looks over to see Adora fiddling with her hands. She rests her hand in Adora’s lap and she quickly holds it. They’ll talk about this later. 

()()()

The couples part ways after dinner and Catra and Adora grab a taxi home this time. 

In the back seat, Adora asks, “Are we okay?”

Catra pulls her into a side hug and gently kisses her cheek. “We’re fine. We can talk when we get back to my place.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” The ride is a nice bubble of quietness through the city. It gives time for Catra to work through her thoughts. 

Soon, they are on Catra’s bed and watching TV and Catra chastises herself when she sees the expiration date on her medicine bottle. She makes sure to check when Adora is in the bathroom, because she still isn’t ready to admit she needs pharmaceutical aid. 

But when Adora comes back, Catra knows what she does need to talk about. 

“What happened?”

Catra takes a deep breath. “Adora, there are several reasons I don’t talk to my parents anymore. And I need you to understand that what happened in the restaurant was me falling back into old habits I’ve been trying to break. I lash out when I’m upset and get defensive when I think someone is judging me.” She really needs to thank Perfuma for helping her talk about her feelings. “At dinner, I felt like I was being belittled and manipulated to feel like a nuisance or whatever. Like I can’t handle myself or make my own decisions. Anger is like a fire. It’s ignited and hard to put out. But for me, when it ignites, it’s like a wildfire rather than a match. And when you used that tone, I felt… it reminded me of how my mom would talk to me.”

Adora looks ready to cry and turns to fully face her with pleading eyes. 

“Adora, you are nothing like my parents. Nothing. You didn’t know. Just like we didn’t know about dinner. No one was at fault but me. I lashed out and blew things out of proportion. And i’m really sorry.”

She nods her head and wipes her nose with the back of her hand. 

“I’m messed up, Adora. And please don’t tell me I’m not. Because admitting it and recognizing it is a good thing, or so they say,” she grumbles the last part. “You did nothing wrong. I was in the wrong.”

And this time she sees Adora understand. “Okay. And I forgive you too, you know. But I am sorry for coming off as controlling. I just really care about them and was harsh. I should’ve read the signs better.”

“You haven’t seen me have an anxiety attack yet. So, tonight was one way of showing you.”

“What should I do, the next time it happens?”

“Just…give me space. Tell me everything will be okay. Because when I get like that, I feel like everything is about to explode and that I can’t stop it. Just tell me you are there for me when I need you. When I’m ready.”

She nods. “I’ll do better next time. Can I hold you now?” Catra slowly curls into her chest and lets her wrap her arms around her as she listens to Adora’s strong and steady heart beat. 

“They both are really nice. I can see why you like them so much,” Catra says. 

“I don’t know where I would be without them. We actually had to come to a compromise. That either we three all lived together and they don’t help me, or I live in the shelter and then they get to help me. I made them make a really tough decision and it’s unfair of me, but I want to do some things entirely on my own. I couldn’t let them baby me through my whole life.”

“Adora, you’re a piece of work.”

“A sexy piece of work, you mean.” The comeback makes them both chuckle. Catra leans up and kisses her, feeling better now. 

“Will you stay the night?” Catra asks as she brushes hair out of Adora’s face. 

“I was hoping you would ask.”

Chapter Text

Adora feels good, so good. She’s hanging onto to Catra’s arm as they head to a flower shop to get some herbal seeds. The two realized how much money they can save if they grew herbs and spices in Catra’s windows and think it would be a fun thing to try out. School is starting soon for everyone so that means the library is going to increase in popularity, thus adding more work to Adora’s job so she is pretty tired today and is soaking up every moment she spends with Catra on their day off. 

The day is a bit cloudy and humid but neither of them mind. Catra goes to push open the door and their noses fill with pleasant and dainty scents. They get what they need and head for the check out counter when Catra feels Adora roughly tug her arm. 

“Catra—“

“Ado—?”

“Quiet!” Adora whispers harshly and pulls Catra behind an aisle. Catra looks at her with confusion but her face turns into fear when she sees how pale Adora is. 

All color is drained from her face and her breathing is shallow and short. Her body trembles and tears fill her eyes, ready to spill over in waves. 

“Baby?” she asks and cups her face gently. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”

Adora holds her wrists with sweaty hands and looks ready to pass out. “We need to—“ she tries to say when a voice interrupts them. 

“Adora? My, is that you child?”

Catra sees Adora’s eyes go wide with pure fear and her body stiffen into stone. Slowly, Catra turns around to face a tall woman with long black hair and gray skin. She looks like death. 

“And who is this? A friend of yours? Something more ?” she chuckles the question like it’s evidence against her in court. 

“Weaver,” Adora says in the smallest breath Catra has ever heard. Her mouth and tongue hardly move. She looks ready to collapse and Catra pulls her in by the waist and that was her first mistake because the reaction makes the scarred woman’s face crinkle into a wide smile. 

“Ah, I see you found someone to fool.”

That snaps Catra from her shock. This is Sharon Weaver. The vile person who manipulated and abused Adora her whole life in the system. Someone who broke this wonderful girl down in every way possible and left her traumatized. 

“ Back the fuck off,” Catra snarls with her claws coming out and it only makes Weaver smile bigger. It’s like she’s having fun. 

“You picked a wild one, didn’t you, Adora? She must be weaker than she looks to fall for your sweet little tricks. You learned from the best, after all.”

Adora finally finds her voice after swallowing a few times, but every word comes out weak and scared. “You’re wrong. I’m nothing like you.”

Weaver tuts. “You can still come back, you know. Come back and be home with me. Your room is still there with all of your belongings.”

“I don’t need you,” she says with more confidence but Catra knows she’s fighting to keep it together. “I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Are you sure about that? Is your little… cot… enough?” she teases and Adora takes in a sharp intake of air. 

She knows. Adora knows she should run but apparently Weaver knows everything. 

“How did you—?”

Weaver shifts her weight to one foot and plucks the petals off a flower. “You thought you could run from me. Hide. It seems you didn’t get very far with the little money you did have.”

Catra waits for Adora’s response, but it never comes. They need to get away from this bitch. 

“Let us pass, or I’ll fuck you up,” Catra threatens with her claws fully out. Weaver smirks when she sees them glint in the fluorescent lights. 

“A street brat. You can do better than her, Adora. I raised you to be better than that. Better than that shelter .” The words hit deep in Catra’s chest but she doesn’t let her face show it. But Adora seems to be further caving in on herself. 

“Adora?” Catra prods her and the blonde looks up and into her eyes. They’re glassy, but when they focus on Catra, they come back into focus and there is a fire roaring there now. 

Adora glares at Weaver, standing up straighter. “Don’t talk about my girlfriend like that. You don’t know anything about her, or me. Catra, let’s go,” she growls and holds her hand as she begins stomping past Weaver with Catra in tow who hisses at the woman. 

They don’t buy the herbs they came for and instead bee line it for the door and speed walk down the street to grab a taxi. Adora waves one down and the two hop in. 

“Where to?” the driver asks. 

“13th and 2nd. Now, please,” Adora relays through trembling lips as she tucks into Catra’s arms. She takes her against her chest immediately and cradles her close, rocking her in the tight back seat of the taxi. 

“I’m here. You’re safe. She’s gone. I got you.” It’s all Catra can think to say to soothe Adora who she knows is trying to hold in her emotions so the driver doesn’t see her breakdown yet. Adora grips Catra’s shirt and breathes in her scent and rubs her face in her fur to ground her. Almost subsonic, Catra purrs so that only Adora can hear it and resonate against her body. 

The taxi pulls over and the two pay before stepping out and are standing on the street in front of the city park. 

Catra gives Adora a strange look. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to my place and calm down?”

Adora shakes her head and begins leading Catra through the sidewalk paths through trees. “I need fresh air. Just need really fresh air,” she repeats and finds a spot on some grass for them to lay out on. 

Laying down, Adora instantly curls on top of Catra with her face buried in her chest and legs entwined with hers. Catra holds her close and purrs a bit louder now that the sound can be drowned out in the city noise and peppers Adora’s sweaty hair in lingering kisses. Adora is still trembling and doesn’t seem ready to talk yet so she rubs her back. 

The sound of bikers, murmured conversations, animals, water fountains, and rustling leaves helps relax Adora, but not nearly as effectively as what Catra is providing. It’s like she’s a security blanket or that designated stuffed animal kids cradle when they are scared at night. She never wants to let go and grips Catra tighter as she buries her nose into her neck. 

After some time, she stops crying and her breathing evens out, Catra notices. 

“How’re you feeling, princess?” she asks softly with a kiss to her forehead. 

“Better. Thanks to you,” Adora murmurs and reluctantly pulls from the safety of Catra’s hold to lay on her back and look up at the clouds with Catra. Catra readjusts so Adora’s head is resting in the crook of her arm as Catra sits on her side to rest her hand on Adora’s chest, feeling it rise and fall. 

Adora holds her hand there and closes her eyes again as another tear escapes. Catra kisses it away and then presses one to her lips that makes Adora sigh as she relaxes. 

“Are you okay?” Adora asks with hurt eyes. 

“I’m fine,” she lies. Because Weaver really got to her. It’s like she knew exactly what to say to hurt her, but Adora doesn’t need to hear that right now. She’s in a tougher spot than Catra is and she needs to be taken care of. 

Adora’s lip begins to tremble again. “How did she know where I live? There’s no way she could have found me. I don’t understand,” she cries. “I got away and now she’s back.”

“She isn’t back,” Catra insists. “You did escape. You are free of her. I don’t know how she knows where you are but we will figure that out. I won’t let her hurt you again, Adora.” 

Beneath her, Adora whimpers and her face crinkles with pain and she covers her face with her hands as she focuses on taking deep breaths. Muffled, she says, “I have to find somewhere else to live.”

Stay with me. Where I can protect you. 

It’s what Catra wants to say, but she knows it’s too soon and too much for Adora to hear right now. The idea might only make Adora feel worse. “What about Glitter and Arrow?” Catra offers instead. “You’re close to your savings goal, right? You’d only be with them for a little while. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

Adora brings her hands to recapture Catra’s to toy with her claws as they press in and out of her fingers. She pouts before sighing and says, “Maybe. But all they will do is worry about me. They’ll see… they’ll see how I’m really doing. They’ll see right through me.”

“Adora, they care about you and want the best for you. Living with them is safer than being in the shelter.”

“But what if me living with them is how she finds them? If she found me already, she will find me again,” she says through panicked breaths. “I need a plan.”

“Hey, look at me,” Catra orders and pulls her jaw so their eyes meet. “I need you to trust me when I say that she will never hurt you again. I won’t let her.”

Adora shakes her head. “She’ll hurt you. She hurt the other kids in the home to keep me in line. She used their lives against me and she will use you too. It’s who she is, Catra. I don’t know what I would do if she ever hurt you,” she cries and strokes Catra’s cheeks. 

Catra wants to snap at Adora for having such low expectations of her. She knows Adora’s fears are valid but Catra is strong and she knows it. Adora is strong too, but it’s almost like Weaver is her kryptonite and knows how to strike her down without lifting a finger. Nearly two decades under Weaver’s care really messed her up. 

“We could find evidence and get her turned in for child abuse,” Catra tries. “Get her sent away and locked up and on the watch list. See how she likes being controlled for a change.” All Catra really wants is to go toe to toe with Weaver but she can’t protect Adora if she’s in handcuffs. 

“Weaver is careful. Even living with her I couldn’t find anything. She somehow always weaseled through the system.”

Catra smells something wrong about that. “Someone is protecting her. Foster kids are basically money banks and someone is making sure she keeps her job. I’m sure of it.”

“What’re we going to do?” Adora whispers with sad eyes. 

“First things first,” Catra begins, “we get you out of the shelter. And I really think you need to be with someone so everyone knows where you are. So, will you please stay with your friends? Just for a little while?”

Adora stiffly nods her head. “How should I ask them?” she asks, reaching for her phone. 

“‘Hey, my wicked foster mother is stalking me. Can I stay with you until Catra puts her behind bars?’ How about that?” Catra jokes and it gets a small smile out of Adora. 

“You’re going to enforce justice on a sorceress?” she snorts, disbelieving. 

“I am many things Adora, but a scaredy-cat is not one of them. I’m the most badass cat you’ll ever meet.”

Adora giggles and Catra tickles her a bit, turning their intense conversation towards something more hopeful then it becomes sad again.

“I dont think im ready to ask them yet. Can...can I think about it?”

Catra gives her a soft kiss. “Of course, Princess. Just tell me when you are ready and we can do it together.”

“You’re too good to me,” Adora whispers sadly. 

The words kill Catra. “From here on out, we look out for each other.” Her voice is harsh and unwavering. “We are going to watch each other’s back and be there for each other no matter what.”

Adora looks up at her in awe. Like the words are something she never thought possible. 

“Adora, you deserve only good things in your life, and I’m going to do everything I can to see that you do.”

Soft blue eyes fill with light and Adora cups her cheek. “And I’ll look out for you. You deserve happiness and good things too, Catra.”

Catra swallows and nods her head. Neither of them believe the words yet, but they are both willing to try for one another. 

()()()

Adora’s brain is going to eat her alive. She’s constantly looking over her shoulder and questioning every person in the shelter, wondering how Weaver found her or if someone knows about Adora and where she is from. Sleeping is nearly impossible with anxiety pricking her nerves all the time. And eating is difficult when the thought of her childhood makes her nauseated and ill. 

She’s on a date with Catra and can’t focus, but she doesn’t want Catra to know she’s struggling. They’re at a food truck event eating street food and Catra is halfway through her meal when Adora has hardly touched hers. Catra has been telling her some story about work but she’s too caught up in checking the crowd to hear her calling her name. 

It’s only when Catra reaches for her hand does she jump and flinch with a jolt from her touch, now finally looking across the table at Catra. Her eyes are sad and her ears are pinned to her head. 

Adora is heaving breaths and feels her heart shatter when Catra asks, “Adora?”

“S-sorry. Lost in thought.”

“You don’t look good,” Catra tells her, scanning her with her eyes. “Have you not heard anything I’ve said?” She shouldn’t be getting angry but Adora has been like this for days and she can’t get through to her. 

With her head down in shame, Adora apologizes. “I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”

“I can tell. Why won’t you talk to me?” 

“About what?” She asks like there isn’t a million things on her mind. Catra scowls at her. 

“Stop that. You’re shutting me out.” Adora can hear the anger and sadness in Catra’s voice. It makes her overwhelmed heart constrict tightly, like it’s bound with cords. She could burst at any moment but she can’t do that here, not now. It would ruin everything, more so than she already has apparently. 

Adora has to fight back tears. “I don’t mean to. I just can’t think right now,” she tries to explain. She can’t tell Catra how much Weaver got to her. How much she does feel like a fraud and has become too codependent on Catra, like she’s some tool to use. Her emotions are getting jumbled and she isn’t sure what to believe about herself. 

“You aren’t eating,” Catra points out and that makes Adora wince. “You won’t even look me in the eye. Adora…” her voice is so full of grief. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” Adora swears. “It’s all me. I’m just a mess and — and I feel like i’m in your way and no matter what I do, all I do is hurt you.”

“You aren’t making any sense!” Catra groans with frustration lacing her tone. All she wants is for Adora to let herself be helped. She rubs her hands through her mane and when she looks back up, Adora is trying to swallow a sob. “Fuck, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Adora,” she rushes out and circles the bench to sit next to Adora. 

“I want to go home,” Adora mumbles as she wipes her nose. “I just need to sleep this off,” she lies and stands up to take her food to the trash bin. Catra follows her and stands in her field of view. 

“I’m worried about you,” she whispers and slowly extends a hand for Adora. She stares at it and gently laces their fingers together and she feels so much better when she can feel Catra. 

Adora takes a deep breath. “I feel like Weaver is watching my every move. Like she can see me, see us. I-I—I can’t get her out of my head.”

“Then let’s pack up your stuff and call Sparkles,” Catra suggests and she gives Adora a stern look when she tries to counter the idea. “We are doing this, Adora.”

“Just for a little while,” she finally caves and it earns her a sweet smile from Catra. 

“Just for a little while.”

()()()

Adora makes Catra wait outside the shelter while she grabs her things. She doesn’t want anyone to see how frugally she’s been living. Everything she has fits into a single black trash bag and she meekly walks out of the building and towards where Catra is parked. Catra doesn’t comment on how little is in Adora’s bag and holds her hand as they drive to Glimmer and Bow’s apartment.

“I have a duffel in my trunk,” Catra offers. Because there is no way Adora wants to go into that house with a trash bag of belongings. It would cause too many issues and tension that can be avoided. 

“Thank you,” Adora says stiffly but is breathing a bit easier now. 

When they pull up, Adora holds on to Catra’s hand a bit tighter before getting out of the car, putting her things in Catra’s bag, and heading up the stairs. With three steady knocks, Adora raps on the door and the door opens not even a second later to a squealing Glimmer. 

“Bestie!!!!” she cheers and pulls Adora in for a strong hug which makes the girl drop her bag. 

Bow appears behind her with equal enthusiasm. “Best Friend Squad together again!”

Catra scoffs at the title. “You guys actually call yourselves that?”

“ They do,” Adora says and the other two ignore the comments. 

“Come on in, dinner is almost done cooking!” Bow waves them in. 

Glimmer smirks at Catra. “That means you too, Catra.”

She rolls her eyes but steps into the home. “You can’t keep winning me over with food, you know.”

“Worked on Adora.”

“Hey!” Adora huffs. “In my defense, that meatloaf was divine. ”

The group laughs at the memory and Catra follows Adora into what will be her new room. It used to be Bow’s room before the two lovers conjoined their rooms and began treating it as an office. Now, the space is set up with a small bed and dresser with a side table with the desk and chair against the opposite wall. The bed is decorated in soft pillows and blankets— much better than what Adora has been sleeping with for the last few months. 

Catra flops on the bed. “Let me test it out for you.” She sinks in the bed and her whole body relaxes at how comfortable it is. “Oh, woah.”

“That nice, huh?” Adora snickers and joins her on the bed. “Okay, yeah. This is really nice.”

Jealousy threatens to run through Catra’s body but she bites it down. Her situation is about as good as it gets right now and beggars can’t be choosers. Not when they threw away their financial support out of spite. Lonnie and the boys took her in when they literally had no space for her, but they couldn’t turn her away. Catra was couch surfing on friends' couches all through college as she fought off the debt of school. 

But Lonnie, Kyle, and Rogelio actually treated her like family and made space for her instead of treating her like some house pet to look after. She’s thankful Adora has a safety net like these two dorks to look after her. Adora needs all the help she can get, as much as she won’t admit it. 

()()()

The friends all have dinner and Catra takes that as her cue to leave. She has work early in the morning and needs to prepare a lunch. 

Adora walks Catra down to her car and pulls her in for a hug. 

“Thank you,” she whispers as she kisses her ear. 

“Of course, princess.”

Reluctantly, they let go, and Catra drives off only when Adora has made it back to the front door. Adora watches her go and then heads inside. Glimmer and Bow are on the couch and scoot aside to make a space between them. 

Glimmer pats the empty spot and Adora scuttles over and sits down. She expects a long conversation or some emotional talk, but all she gets it’s a group hug. The sensation melts her and feels herself relax in their gentle hold. 

Pulling back, Bow offers Adora the TV remote. “You pick what we watch tonight.”

This could be Adora’s life. A warm home, surrounded by those you love with filling, tasty meals. She wants it so badly. But, not yet. Present Adora doesn’t know how to want things yet. 

It’s when the movie ends and Adora is laying in bed, the distraction of the movie wearing off and reality taking its place, it all hits her. Paranoia grips her like Weaver’s shadows always did. Fitfully, she finds sleep after such an exhausting day. But the sleep doesn’t last long. 

At 4am, Glimmer wakes to screams of agony.

Chapter Text

Glimmer is outside Adora’s room, trying to call Catra. Since waking her up, the only thing Adora has been able to say is Catra’s name. Bow is currently trying to settle Adora but it seems nothing is going to keep her from passing out until she sees Catra. 

Now she’s pacing with her own panic because Catra won’t pick up. The third time she gets her voicemail, she takes a breath and looks to her ceiling. 

“Pick up the fucking phone, Catra.”

She calls her again and this time she picks up immediately. 

“Fucking what—“

“Adora needs you,” Glimmer rushes out, tired but mostly upset as Adora continues to cry behind her bedroom door. She can hear Bow's smooth, deep voice talking to her but it’s not enough. “I’m sorry to wake you but Adora is having a panic attack and she needs you, right now.”

Catra breathes in sharp. “I’m on my way.” 

She dresses in record time and snags her keys as she bolts down the stairs to her piece of shit car that she prays will survive the drive. Because this drive is going to push this car’s limits as she flies down the highway to help Adora. Thankfully, there aren’t any cops out, except for one, and she sees them in time to slow down. 

It’s nearing 4:30 am when Catra pulls into the visitors lot of the couple's apartment. She doesn’t even bother locking her car doors as she bounds up the stairs and opens the front door, knowing Glimmer left it unlocked. When she spots Glimmer, she’s waving her over with red eyes. Catra rushes to her and turns the corner into Adora’s room to find the blonde curled in a ball with Bow rubbing her back. A small lamp illuminates the room as her chest rises and falls sporadically. 

“Adora?” she calls out gently and enters the room. Bow steps away and let’s Catra take his place by Adora’s side. The moment she hears her voice, Adora uncurls and her face crinkles into one of both relief and anguish. Catra pulls her into her arms and lets the girl sob into her shoulder. 

“You’re okay,” she stutters, nose dripping. The words confuse Catra, but she has some idea of who she was worried could have hurt her. Catra looks over her shoulder and nods to Glimmer and Bow, telling them she’s got this. The two nod back and silently close the door. 

“Yeah, I’m okay. I’m right here.” Adora is still crying as Catra rocks her back and forth, rubbing her back. As her breathing slows down with little hitches, Catra says, “I’m going to lay us down.” She doesn’t need Adora thinking she’s going to let her go or do something Adora isn’t prepared for. It’s only when Adora nods does she get them under the covers. This gives Catra an implication that Adora isn’t looking for control, but to be taken care of.

Catra hasn’t stopped purring since she entered the room 15 minutes ago and it’s getting to wear on her muscles keeping it at max volume, but she doesn’t let up. She is on her side with Adora’s face pressed into her neck as her tail remains wrapped around her calf. Adora has her hands fisted in her sleep shirt. Then Adora begins to stir and untucks herself from Catra, resting her head on the pillow to be eye to eye. Adora’s eyes are bloodshot and swollen as sweat clings to every inch of her skin. 

“Hey there, princess.” Adora’s eyes droop at the name, relaxing at her voice. 

“You came.”

“Of course I did. You asked for me.”

Adora gives a weak breath of a laugh. “Sorry, I know it’s late.” Catra shakes her head, petting Adora’s head as she runs her fingers through her hair.

“Glimmer called me. Said you needed me,” she explains, stroking a thumb over Adora’s shoulder. Adora looks away with shame but Catra pulls her jaw back. “I’m glad she called. I’m glad you asked for me. I want to be there for you.”

“It was a nightmare,” she admits. “Weaver got you, just like she got the other kids when I messed up. I couldn’t do anything.” Adora takes in a rattling breath. “She made me watch.”

Catra can’t even imagine how terrible that must have been to conjure up. She knows how real those night terrors can feel. Not only that, Catra knows what it’s like to be held down and tormented. It was an easy grip to slip out of at the time, but to be at hands of Sharon Weaver makes her skin crawl. She is more like the boogey man than she could ever be a guardian.

She holds Adora closer. “She didn’t get me. She won’t get me, Adora. And I will never let her hurt you again,” she swears. The implication that Adora’s brain could think up Catra being tormented and weaker than Weaver kind of hurts her ego, but that just goes to show how strong and terrifying the sorceress really is. If even Adora, after all those years with her, couldn’t find a way to defeat her and still live in fear, is a testament to her power and manipulation. 

“I can’t get her out of my head. She’s always been there. I just want her gone,” she growls with frustration.

“Have you always gotten night terrors about her?” Catra has to ask, because that means Adora has been hiding these attacks for a very long time. It means that, even in the shelter, Adora was fighting these by herself and never told Catra.

She can smell the shame coming off Adora as she stiffens in her arms. “Yeah. I was having them less, but then when we saw her again they came back. My roommates in the shelter were not fans,” she says with embarrassment and Catra feels her muscles coil with anger that Adora was made to feel ashamed for her PTSD. “One lady was nice and helped me. I was doing so well, not dreaming about her, and now they are happening again. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“Don’t apologize,” Catra placates. Because she can’t let Adora feel shame when she is the one having a panic attack and Catra has night terrors of her own that she never told Adora about. “I never told you about mine either. But I’m here now, and you aren’t alone.”

Adora tucks back under her chin and nods against her chest. 

“Are you thirsty? You should drink some water,” Catra coaxes and Adora slowly pulls from her arms to sit up. She wipes her face and nods her head. 

“I spilled the cup I had that Glimmer brought me.”

Catra can’t leave this bed, but she does have her phone. “I’m gonna ask them to bring us some water. Can you give me their numbers?” Adora relays their numbers and Catra texts them. Glimmer replies within seconds and then there is a knock at the door. 

“Come in,” Adora calls out weakly and the door opens. Glimmer gives them both a soft smile as she pads into the room and hands Catra the cup of water. 

Catra holds the cup to Adora’s lips since she’s still pretty shaken up. “Is there anything else I can get you guys?” Glimmer asks. 

“More tissues,” Adora replies. “After that you guys can go to bed. I’m okay now.” Glimmer gives Catra a weary look and Catra nods. 

“I got her, Sparkles.” She hesitates, then relents and teleports from the room and returns with a box of tissues for Adora. 

“Text me if you need anything.” Silently, she walks out the door and closes it, leaving the two alone again. Adora blows her nose several times, blushing at the number of tissues she uses and takes a few more gulps of water. Catra throws away all of the tissues and sets her cup on the nightstand. 

Turning her attention back to Adora, Catra asks, “How’re we feeling, princess?” She sits next to Adora, putting her arm around her shoulders and rests her head on the blonde’s. 

“Better. Sleepy now,” she murmurs as she toys with Catra’s tail. “You can go home now.”

“Do you want me to go?”

Adora makes a soft noise, maybe a sob. “No,” she says miserably. 

“Then I’m staying right here with you.” She presses a few kisses into her hairline as she rubs her shoulder. 

“But you have work here soon,” she argues. 

Catra snorts. “I have clothes here to change into. I’ll steal your tooth brush and I know those two will make me breakfast. Make us both breakfast. Besides, this place is closer to where I need to be today.” 

“Thank you.” As she leans her head up, Catra can see how tired her eyes are, how she is beyond tired and truly drained from the attack. Catra presses her lips to Adora’s pleading ones and the taste of Catra soothes her. Adora gently moves her lips against Catra’s, taking her time to feel how real and alive she is. 

After a few more moments, they lay back down and Catra drapes herself across Adora, her head nuzzled into her neck as Adora cards through her mane. As much as Adora needs to protect everyone she holds dear, she finds herself giving into Catra’s embrace and the safety she provides. A part of her hates that she needs this, wants this, but the other part that she spends so much time repressing, screams for Catra. And tonight, it breaks through those barriers. 

()()()

Exhaustion weighs on Catra’s frail body. The commute to work is longer than usual with how foggy her head is. She didn’t get more than a few hours of sleep last night, and not because of Adora. Catra had so much on her mind that her brain refused to sleep, thoughts zooming through her head. 

Immediately after heading home from Glimmer and Bow’s place when they got Adora moved in, her mind went into darker territory. She feels a whole lot better knowing Adora can be looked after with people that Catra can actually trust, don’t get her wrong. Knowing this settled her immensely, but Catra is now feeling lackluster in her attempts to be a good girlfriend. Adora has been attacked by Weaver, has been hurt by that bitch her whole life and Catra feels powerless. She feels hate boil in her chest and it’s great, because not only is it better than the numbing sadness depression leaves her with everyday, but it also wakes her up and pushes her forward. 

Normally she would stomp it down but right now it’s what she needs. Her mind comes back to life thanks to the rage and she can think about how she is going to ruin Weaver’s life. Adora makes the woman sound untouchable, but Catra has always loved proving people wrong. 

This morning before she left, Catra watched Adora sleep peacefully in the bed beside her. Adora deserves to live every moment as relaxed as she was in the dawn of day. Catra’s sleepless night it’s going to fuck her over at work today, but that’s what coffee and anger issues are for. It’s the perfect fuel to keep her going. 

She pulls onto the job site and begins stretching to limber up before the work day begins. Everyone meets up to discuss the plan for the day and then they split off to their assigned projects. Working and the labor involved with the job always soothed her. Being active helps get all the pent up energy out of her system that she spends every moment of her life trying to keep below the surface. Her anger has gotten the best of her before— less often now that she has met Perfuma and has attempted medication— and it never ended well. But today she knows how to channel it. 

As she works, time passes quickly, with moments of weakness in between, and before she knows it, lunchtime rings out for the crew. The bell immediately has Catra releasing the strain on her muscles as her body relaxes and powers down from her hard work so she can eat. She picks up the clipboard to mark off her duties and sees her vision spot for a moment as her hands shake. Growling, Catra gets her tremors under control and shakes her head; she wishes she packed a bigger lunch, because she is going to need it. 

Catra puts down her clipboard and wipes her fur down where it had grown sticky with sweat. When she turns the corner towards the trailer/office on site, she sees a flushed Adora in a ridiculous hard hat, staring at her with a packed lunch. Catra had no idea how much she needed to see the blonde’s smile until now. 

()()()

Bow and Glimmer made a big breakfast for everyone before work this morning. It was so nice having everyone together after such a rough night. Adora slept so soundly in Catra’s embrace and she is thankful. The nightmare and panic attack that followed was so draining that Adora didn’t even remember falling asleep. She hopes Catra got some sleep before work, she feels so bad about waking her up like that. 

Once Catra kisses her goodbye and walks out the door, Adora turns to Glimmer and Bow to help with cleaning up the kitchen. 

“Do we have anything here to make a hearty lunch with?” Adora asks as she piles up dirty plates. “I want to pack Catra a lunch for her break today. She always takes something small and cheap, but I want to make something special after what happened last night.”

Glimmer gives Adora a soft smile as she takes a clean plate from Bow. She dries it and puts it in the cabinet. “That’s a great idea! Let me check the fridge and see what we got.” She poofs a few feet over and begins prodding through the fridge and then the pantry. 

“Did you get enough sleep last night Adora?” Bow asks in the meantime and Adora nods, helping with drying wet dishes. 

“Thanks to Catra. I always sleep better when she’s with me,” she says softly. “And thank you guys for everything last night. That was intense and I’m sorry for waking you like that.”

Behind her, Glimmer makes her presence known with a scuff of her feet before she wraps her arms around Adora’s mid section. “It’s okay. I’m just glad we were there to help you. And…we have some left over vegetables and pork if you want to do a stir fry! There is also some rice in the pantry.”

Adora hugs Glimmer back. “Are you sure I can cook with that stuff? I don’t want to take something you guys had planned.”

“Not at all! We probably weren’t going to get around to eating before it went bad anyway.”

Bow washes the last plate and joins in on the hug. “I would be more than happy to lend a yummy lunch for Catra. Make sure to make enough for the both of you!”

“Yes!” Glimmer agrees. “You two should have some lunch together. Please cook all you want. We need to hit the store anyway so go crazy.”

“Thank you guys,” Adora says, coming out from the hug. “Glim? Do you think you could pop me over there when it’s time? They have lunch at noon.” Adora feels bad for asking for so much but she really owes this to Catra. 

Glimmer gives her an award winning smile. “I’d be more than happy to.”

Everyone got ready for work and headed out the door. Adora rode the train to work with a grin on her face as she held onto the lunch boxes with their lunches in them. She texts Rogelio, asking where they’re set up today and mentions her little secret surprise for Catra. He is quick to respond and sends the address to Adora. She eventually gets to work and makes sure to work harder than ever. 

Around 11:15, Glimmer pops into her office, startling her. “Heyoooo!” she greets and Adora laughs off her nerves from the scare. 

“Heyo,” she replies back with much less swagger. “What’re you doing here so soon?”

Glimmer shrugs and sits in the chair in front of her desk. “Work is slow and boring. Thought I’d come see you. Plus, I think you and I could have some fun.”

“Some fun?” Adora questions, raising a curious brow as she types. 

“Mhm. Like us going and watching Catra work. Have you ever seen a magicat scale up a building free handed? It’s insane.”

“Huh?” Adora wonders. “I don’t think I have. But I have a lot of work to do here…”

Glimmer rolls her eyes with fondness. “You work for Bow’s dads, not the government. A few extra emails can wait a couple hours. Now let’s go see your girlfriend in action!” She stretches out a hand with a challenging tilt of her head. Adora huffs. She really wants to see Catra scale a building. 

“Fine. Let’s grab our lunches.”

When they get the sacked lunches from the break room fridge, the two head to where Rogelio said they would be. Space warps and then the two are on a construction site for an up and coming strip mall. Loud noises from various tools fill the air and it’s a shock to their senses from the quiet office they were once in. 

Adora holds a hand up to block the sun and begins searching for Catra.

“Excuse me?” a man calls out and strolls up to them. He’s in a suit and hard hat with a clipboard in his hand. “Hard hats are required on all active job sites. Who are you here to see?” he asks and waves them over to get a hard hat for protection. 

“Uh, we were here to see Catra,” Adora answers as she puts on the hat. It’s bulky and likes to slide around on her head. Damn, it’s messing with her hair poof. Glimmer doesn’t seem too dazzled about the hat either. 

The man looks around and points his hand out towards one of the complexes. “She’s over there. It’s best if you guys stay back until they are done. We are on a tight schedule, but break is soon and you guys can hang out then.”

“Thank you so much!”

“Do you want me to let her know you are here?”

Adora shakes her head. “That’s alright. I want to surprise her.”

The man smiles. “I’m glad she’s got good company. She works hard.” Adora beams at that. 

“Sounds like Catra.” The man gives them a nod and heads back to his duties. Adora finds Catra in the crowd and swoons. 

She’s never seen Catra in a hard hat before and it’s ridiculously sexy on her. Being a magicat, Catra never bothers with shoes and gloves like humans do. Rather than thick jeans and long sleeve shirts, Catra wears tight spandex pants and an athletic tank top. Her hard hat has a curve on its sides to compliment her ears while still protecting the necessary parts of her head. 

Next to her, Glimmer whistles low. “Damn. She’s hotter than I thought.”

“That’s my girlfriend,” Adora comments with a lopsided grin, never taking her eyes off Catra. 

The magicat is slicing wood planks and hoisting them over her shoulder as she leaps up into the second story window and the sight knocks the wind out of Adora. She knew Catra was strong, but she didn’t know just how flexible and nimble she actually was outside of their regular workouts together. Her heart rate picks up as Catra crawls through compact spaces when she recalls how Catra explained that she is claustrophobic but pushes through it for the job. She loses track of time as she watches Catra work and then she sees a candid moment that makes her heart drop.

Catra laughs at some joke a coworker makes, but Adora can tell her whole heart isn’t in it. The way her fangs don’t poke out and her tail doesn’t twitch are obvious signs of faux laughter. Then Catra turns away and Adora sees her face go slack and her eyes become distant as her motions become robotic. Catra takes a moment to stare at the wall and sighs heavily, ears slightly turning back like she wants to put them down but forces them to stay forward. She looks sad. Then there’s a switch and Catra is pure confidence and bravado again. Adora wonders how often Catra wears this mask. That’s when she begins to pick up on how sluggish Catra is when she isn’t putting her all into certain tasks. How slow and disconnected the girl becomes when she doesn’t think anyone is looking.

Aside from the heartbreak it causes Adora, she can see how strong Catra really is. The way she powers through everything almost effortlessly to the naked eye and is always being active and making sure her work is done well. With a glance at Catra’s nonchalant stature, anyone would think she is lazy and slow, but Adora can see how efficient she is when it’s needed. Catra is a pro at adapting to situations. 

Catra climbs down from the railing when the bell goes off. She picks up a clipboard with a huff and a shake of her hands. When she sets the clipboard down she looks up and her eyes meet Adora’s and the change in her demeanor is instant, making Adora gasp a bit. Behind her, Glimmer snickers unknowing that Adora’s gasp is for a different reason other than horny. Adora doesn’t waste a moment before she is waving Catra down and making her way towards her with an elated smile that Catra shares.

“What’re you doing here?” she asks as she pulls Adora in for a hug and gentle kiss, affection evident in her voice. Behind them, Glimmer poofs away with a wave.

“I wanted to have lunch with you. Last night was...rough. And you were there for me, and I wanted to do something nice,” she explains, gesturing to the lunches in her hands.

Catra moans. “You’re a lifesaver. I was expecting to eat stale chips from the breakroom today. Let's go somewhere private,” she says and links her hand with Adora’s as she tugs them to a more quiet section away from the other employees. The two sit down on some concrete steps in the shade and Adora reveals the food to which Catra eagerly eats and thanks her for. 

“Wow, I’m glad I cooked extra,” Adora smirks when she sees Catra has cleaned her bowl of food. Catra blushes and swallows her last bite. 

She rubs the back of her neck. “Yeah, hungrier than I thought too.”

Adora leans in and places a hand on her knee, rubbing it soothingly. “I feel like you are more wound up than usual. I know last night was rough but you seem…out of sorts.” Catra flicks her ear and her shoulder slouch slightly. “I see it in your eyes.”

Catra stills, contemplating on what to share. But Adora was open and raw with her last night. It wouldn’t be fair to withhold information on her emotional duress. But Catra is still so angry about Weaver, so much so her hands have only stopped shaking when she is distracted by eating. 

“Adora,” she begins after a couple deep breaths. “I am very protective of you. And it has resulted…in a lot of intense energy inside me. And if we get into this now, I won’t be able to work.”

“Later then?” Adora asks hopefully, but not wanting to push Catra. An easy smile spreads on Catra’s face. 

“Yeah, later.”

Adora releases a breath and rubs her girlfriend’s shoulder and frowns at the tension she feels. “Come here, let me rub you.” Catra chuckles but gives in and squats on the step below Adora and sits between her legs. The moment she begins to rub Catra’s shoulder, she purrs. Adora has a silent victory dance in her head.

Soon, Catra has to get back to work, and she feels  a lot better now since Adora dropped by to see her. As Adora waits for Glimmer to teleport her back to work, she watches Catra work and it revives her lust all over again. She’s going to be thinking about this all day.

()()()

When Catra gets off work, she heads home and flops into bed, drained from the day. Emotionally, she is a mess and burnt out from the physical labor. If Adora hadn’t helped her calm down, she might've lost her cool. And now she misses Adora.

She pulls up her contact info and facetime’s her. After a few rings, Adora answers.

“Hey! How was work?”

Catra yawns. “Same old shit. Your massage helped,” she admitted with a blush and Adora smiled widely. Saying this sappy stuff was worth it if she could see that smile.

“I have magic hands, what can I say?”

“Sure do, princess,” Catra purrs and Adora flushes.

“Are you ready to talk?” Adora asks and Catra groans, rolling over in her bed to glare at her phone. Of course Adora isn’t going to let this go.

Catra sulks and lowers her ears. “I want to be able to protect you from Weaver. But I’m here, and you’re over there. And not being able to physically protect you pisses me off, okay?” she says in a rush, avoiding the screen of her phone as she fumes and flushes from what she just confessed. Confessed that she always wants to be with Adora and that Weaver has gotten into her head and made her paranoid. 

A shaky breath from the other end of the phone makes Catra look at her screen to see Adora smiling sadly at her, but not for Catra, but for herself. “I wish you were always with me, to keep me safe, too.” Catra’s tail thuds once before she grabs it, keeping it still. 

“I am pretty strong,” she deflects, diffusing the tension. 

Adora snorts and flexes her arms. “We make a pretty strong team.” The words make Catra’s eyes go wide with realization. 

She isn’t alone anymore. Her whole life, it’s been her against the world, but now she isn’t alone in her corner. Adora is here with her, and together, they are strong. Not only that, but Adora isn’t alone anymore either. She has Catra now. 

“We protect each other,” Catra murmurs and Adora gets that contented look in her eye again. 

“Yeah. I like that.”

“You know what else I like?” Catra asks, because not only do these two need a break after such an emotionally taxing day, but Catra is horny. Adora flexed, and she is lying down on her bed, hair splayed around her and blushing with a drunk droop of her eyelids. She’s intoxicating. 

Adora hums with a wink. “What’s that?”

Purring, Catra says, “From the angle of my phone, you look like you are beneath me. And it’s turning me on.”

“And you’re above me, from my angle. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Adora asks and Catra lays her phone down, leaning over it. 

“Facetime sex?”

“Facetime sex.”

()()()

Adora is quick to lock her door and prop her phone up on her nightstand with books so it’s angled for Catra to see her naked form from the thighs up. On the other end of the phone, Catra has a similar set up with a blanket ready to cover herself should her roommates come up and ignore her warning bracelet on the front door.

“Spread your legs, let me see you,” Catra commands. The tone of her voice has completely changed and it alters Adora’s sense of control immediately. Catra is the one in control right now.

Adora widens her legs to reveal dripping pink folds and Catra licks her lips at the sight.

“Suck on your fingers, get them wet for me.”

Bringing her fingers to her mouth, she maintains eye contact with Catra and smirks as she does it, licking and sucking on them slowly.

“Use your other hand to twist your nipples.” The blonde complies and swirls her spare, dry fingers down her plump chest and sighs out a moan when she grips her nipple and turns. “You make the most beautiful noises, Adora.” She keens lightly at the praise and sees Catra move her arm down off screen.

“Both hands on your nipples, now. Be rough,” Catra commands and Adora sees the steady movement of her striped arm as her hand now has a vibrator rubbing against her clit. Adora doesn’t hesitate to cup both of her breasts and pinch her hardened nipples. She twists and tugs and she has to throw her head back and remember to keep her legs open for Catra as they threaten to shut for friction. Adora twists a bit harder and causes her pelvis to thrust in the air and Catra moans at the sight.

“You are so fucking good, baby. So gorgeous and obedient for me. You can touch yourself now,” she praises through gasps as she grinds on to her toy.

Adora runs her wet fingers down her sternum and to her aching core. She repositions herself so her pussy is front and center on the camera for Catra, who is moaning and groaning. 

Easily, she slides a finger in, coating it in her slick and pulls it back out to rub her clit. She cries out softly. “Catra…”

“Do you touch yourself and come simply by thinking about me?”

Adora let’s out a broken whimper with a few stern nods. Her hand picks up it’s pace and pressure, making her moan. Even just the sound of Catra’s voice sends her closer to the edge. She can’t help it, and presses two fingers inside herself. 

“Adora, from now on, I want you to always tell me when you touch yourself. Is that a task you want to do with me?” Catra asks. 

A task. Adora thinks back to the munch and notes she took. This is something a Dominant asks for their submissive to do. Like a reward system that lets the Dominant control them. She curls her fingers tighter at the thought. 

“Yes,” she gasps. “I want to do this task for you, sir.”

“Good girl. Now fuck yourself to the sound of my voice.”

She picks up her paces and pulls her fingers out, a drip of wetness following after as she resumes circling her clit, doing what she is told. 

Catra shivers at the sight and sound. “You’re so gorgeous, Adora. Everything about you is so wonderful and beautiful.” The blonde moans at the praise and spreads her legs wider. “Such perfect skin, all for me to taste and touch. I wish I could feel you right now.” Adora begins thrusting her hips into her hand as the other grips at her swollen nipple. “There you go, let go. You’re doing so well. You do so much, Adora. Just do what you’re told.”

Adora nods and obeys Catra’s every command as her ears are filled with praises. “I’m gonna cum,” she whimpers. 

“Cum. Don’t hold back,” Catra purrs as she thrusts into her own hand. “Fuck, you sound amazing.”

Harder, stronger, she flicks her clit and then her head is thrown back as her body jerks and twitches wildly, rubbing out the orgasm as it washes through her like an explosion. She needs more, so she doesn’t stop. She keeps working her clit into another peak that has her thighs squeezing around her arm between her legs. 

“I want to come again, please sir,” she begs.

“Cum as many times as you can. I want you to feel good, Adora. You’ve been through so much and deserve this, okay? Don’t stop. Cum until you can’t.”

She throws her head back, eyes slamming shut as tears press into her eyelids from Catra’s sweet words. “Oh--oh, Catra-- Cat--” is all she can stammer out when she is cumming again and again for her.

Fuck, Adora is so stunning the way she twitches and throws her head around as every orgasm floods her body. The gentle, filthy noises she makes when she feels good. It sends Catra into an intense wave of pleasure as two back to back orgasms swarm her system like a blanket. Quickly, her clit becomes sensitive and she has to pull it away and turn it off. But she never takes her eyes off Adora. A purr vibrates through her body as she watches Adora come down from her final orgasm.

Catra wants to tell her she loves her.

But she can’t. Not when they are both far too unstable to say something that the other might think was coerced. Catra can’t let someone have that much control over her yet. But, maybe soon.

When Adora finally opens her eyes, she finds Catra and smiles widely, blissed out and content with deep breaths moving her body slowly. Glowing, she is glowing and perfect.

“My good girl,” Catra tells her. I love you, she would rather say.

Adora’s eyes flutter. “Your good girl. Can I go to the bathroom?” she asks because she isn’t quite ready to be in control again yet.

Catra nods. “Yeah, I’m gonna go too. Meet me back here in bed.” The two clean themselves and are both curled up under the covers as they smile at each other.

“Can I ask for something?” Adora says after a short while and Catra nods with a hum. “Will...will you purr me to sleep?”

Warmth layers Catra’s skin. “I would love to.”

Chapter Text

It’s been a whole month since Adora moved in with Glimmer and Bow and the guilt she feels for being in their space has only grown. For the next week she searches for a second job, determined to make more money and move out so she doesn’t become any more of a burden than she already is. She doesn’t tell the couple what she’s up to, because then they will know what she is trying to do and they will only want to stop her. 

She can handle extra work load. She was raised to handle anything and never falter in her step, and lately all she has done is mess things up and it’s time she corrects that. Her job with Bow’s dads pays well, but she has too many loans to pay to too many people. Angella, Glimmer’s mom, has been more of a mother to Adora in the last 3 years than Weaver ever was. 

When she finally aged out of the home, she tried just sleeping in gyms and hospital waiting rooms until she met an older woman named Razz who let her stay in her guest bedroom as long as she paid rent. After about a year, Razz became too ill and had to be moved into a nursing home, thus rendering Adora back to the streets. That’s when Glimmer finally tracked her down again and basically forced her to live with them. 

The guilt ate at her as she slept on their couch every night when she eventually gave them an ultimatum. And here she is, back in their house. 

They’ve been endlessly kind to her and she feels so unworthy of it all. All she can think to do is carry her weight and more. She’ll make more money. Fill their fridge, clean their laundry, gas up their car, and clean the house everyday if she has to. 

Adora hasn’t seen much of Catra, but it’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make so she can be something worthy of being with her. But, as Weaver said, she is already tainted. It leaves her paranoid and she feels like she is being constantly watched.

Glimmer and Bow try to get her to slow down and hang out with them, but every moment spent sitting down is a moment wasted. In fact, if she stays busy enough, they won’t ever see her and she can avoid their worried faces. 

It’s when Angella calls her that she panics. She can’t ignore her, not when she has given everything to Adora as if she was her own child. 

“Hello?” Adora answers as if she had woken from a nap like she promised Glimmer. When she’s actually been job hunting. 

“Adora, I’m sorry did I wake you?” she asks with so much sincerity Adora winces. 

“It’s okay, I needed to get up and grab some groceries anyway.”

Angella sighs. “Well I’m glad I caught you before you did, because that is what we need to talk about.” Adora swallows. “Glimmer tells me you are working yourself to the bone and I think it’s time you just relaxed today. I’ll order you all some dinner, my treat.”

Adora bites her tongue. “Alright. I will let Glimmer know.”

“No need, I already took care of it. Please get some sleep, okay?”

Her hand twists her shirt in pain. “Okay,” she lies and hangs up the phone and gets right back on the computer. 

It’s about an hour later when Adora steps out of her room to get some more water when Glimmer calls out to her from the couch. 

“Adora! Come watch a movie with us!”

“Please?” Bow begs and Adora just can’t say no to that face. 

“Sure, sounds fun.” She says it’s with as much enthusiasm she can muster. 

“See if Catra wants to join us,” Glimmer comments and that makes Adora feel a bit lighter. 

Her smile is genuine. “Let me call her real quick.”

Catra is just getting home when Adora calls and the magicat is quick to change into clean clothes and head over. As they wait, the trio looks through trailers and prepares snacks to eat for the night. From the door is a knock and Adora bolts from her seat to go open it and greet her girlfriend, pulling her into a hug and several loud kisses. Adora dares Glimmer to make gagging noises when she has to put up with their antics all the time.

“Miss me?” Catra smirks as she rubs circles in Adora’s hips.

“Is that even a question?” The question makes Catra blush and purr. Adora pulls Catra to the couch and the two sit on one side of the L couch and cuddle up under a blanket.

Glimmer dims the lights and gets back in her seat. “Alright,” she announces, “Comedy, horror, or sci-fi tonight?”

Catra’s eyes go wide. “Is it a shitty horror movie we can make fun of?”

“Yes.”

“We have to watch that,” Catra demands and Bow has to agree, which makes Adora agree because Glimmer loves to make fun of movies and there is no point in arguing with Glimmer.

The movie flicks on and the opening credits roll. Beneath the blanket, Catra’s hand finds Adora’s thigh and she rubs the sensitive skin there under the hem of Adora’s shorts. Adora does her best to hide her squirming when Catra leans into her ear.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day, baby.”

Adora immediately gushes in her underwear. She has been so focused on work and being better that she has forgotten what it’s like to just let go and be good for Catra. Every ounce of tension in her muscles begins to wear away and she cuddles close to Catra and slowly spreads her legs in an open invitation. 

“You are such a good girl,” she whispers with a lick to Adora’s ear and it has the blonde seeing stars.

Adora clears her throat. “Can we turn the movie up?” she asks Glimmer who has the remote.

“Yeah sure!” Next to Adora, Catra gets a filthy grin.

Then, Adora leans into Catra’s ear. “Make me good.” A low purr is the response and then Catra begins to softly rub her nub through her shorts with a feather touch. Adora’s head lolls back with a sigh as Catra has her way with her.

“That’s it, let me do all the work, princess. Be my good girl and relax.”

She spreads her legs wider as her left hand holds onto Catra’s thigh because she thinks she might fly away. Catra’s hand slowly comes up under her shirt and prickles her abdomen with her claws, making Adora jerk her hips. She coughs and shifts to cover her track so it doesn’t seem out of place.

Glimmer and Bow start making comments on the movie and Catra joins in but Adora has literally no idea what is going on enough to say anything, so she settles for laughing. Like a snake, Catra slithers her fingers underneath the elastic band of her shorts and underwear. Her hand rubs through her darker curls towards where she needs her most. She has to turn her face into Catra’s shoulder to hide her jaw drop. Catra’s delicate fingers trail through her drenched folds to gather up her wetness and then begins circling her clit.

The way Catra touches her is agonizingly slow but their movements can’t be too sudden or noisy or it would draw attention so Adora steels herself to accept the attention. 

“You’re so wet,” Catra tells her as she slips a finger inside as Adora gently raises her hips for easier access. Glimmer turns to Catra for her opinion on the actor choices and Catra stills her hand where it is inside Adora.

Adora feels herself clench around Catra and decides this is a good chance to act like she is paying attention.

They banter and joke for a moment and when they refocus on the movie, Catra begins curling her finger and Adora gets goosebumps. She bends one knee and straightens out her other leg so her position isn’t too revealing and gives Catra greater access. After a few more shallow thrusts, Catra pulls out her finger and Adora feels a whole pool of cum drip out of her. Fuck, she’s going to make a mess but she doesn’t care. She squeezes her hand a bit tighter around Catra’s thigh as her girlfriend begins rubbing her clit again, a bit more rough this time.

Adora feels herself getting close after a few minutes of steady circles and that’s when Catra slows down and pulls her hand away. Without thinking, Adora gasps quite loudly.

The sound makes Bow and Glimmer whip their heads over to see what happened.

“Are you okay?”

“Sorry! That actor-- I finally remembered who he reminded me of! Haha. Some guy I went to school with,” she brushes off and Catra is trying to hide her laughter. “Evil,” Adora says as she whispers in Catra’s ear.

“Pass the candy bowl?” Catra asks Bow and takes it for Adora and Catra to munch on. “You’re not coming until after the movie,” she states and Adora huffs.

“I will have my revenge,” she whispers back and Catra simply winks.

Catra goes back down her pants three more times and stops short of Adora’s orgasms with expertise. By the time the credits roll, Adora is sure she ruined the couch cushion. There is now way she can remove the blanket without the whole apartment smelling of sex and Catra knows it too. Because when they stand to head to bed, Catra is careful to not lift the blanket too high and tucks it around Adora. She waits for Glimmer and Bow to leave the living room before she scurries after Catra into her bedroom and tackles her to the bed, making Catra cackle and squeal.

“Catra, please,” she begs, kissing her hungrily as she grinds their crotches together. Not only does Adora need this distraction, but she needs the release. Needs to feel good after so many weeks of feeling so inadequate. 

“I got you,” Catra assured and flips them, yanking Adora’s shorts and underwear down to pump two fingers inside of her. Her palm presses into her clit just right. “You can come now.”

Three more thrusts into her hand and her whole body just clenches and trembles with her orgasm as Catra takes her. Finally, her body releases and relaxes and Catra pulls out of her, helping her lay back and kiss her deeply. 

“My good girl.”

“Thank you,” Adora says and holds Catra close. “You have no idea how badly I needed that.”

Catra curls in close and scratches her back. “Get some sleep for me.”

And for the first time in a month, Adora doesn’t fight the sleep that overtakes her now that she is safe in Catra’s arms.

When she wakes up and says goodbye to Catra, Adora heads back to her room and looks at herself in the mirror. Then to the messy bed where she decides to lay back down where she can still smell Catra’s cologne. She wishes Catra never had to leave her, wishes she could always stay right by her side, but Catra has a life.

Adora has a life.

A life she needs to get back on track so she can spend it with Catra and treat her like the amazing girlfriend that she is.

You learned from the best.

Weaver’s words penetrate her brain like a stake. She was raised by a monster and Adora has been trying so hard to change her ways, but she still wants to please everybody and be perfect for them. Just like Weaver raised her to be. How can Adora be good if she has been soured by the likes of Weaver? Adora could see the bags under Catra’s eyes last night and how hungrily she ate the food Glimmer and Bow made. The girl was exhausted and her smile didn’t fully reach her eyes and her laugh was too soft and lacked it’s usual squeak. She shouldn’t have invited Catra over last night; she pulled the girl away from rest so she could be selfish with her.

Adora doesn’t realize how wrong her thoughts are, not when her brain has convinced her that everything she is doing to Catra is wrong. She isn’t good enough for Catra. So, she has to be better-- no, be the best for Catra. Last night she used Catra to distract herself from her worries instead of facing them like a coward. Adora cannot be weak, she has to grow above this turmoil and conquer these obstacles. 

Setting her shoulders as she sits at the desk, Adora downs some coffee, opens the laptop Bow has been letting her use, and sets to finding another job once again. She needs money and a great job so she can afford school and have a home of her own. So she can repay Catra with all she has done and give her a place to live that isn’t on a couch and pay back Glimmer and Bow’s families for all that they have done over there over the years. 

She silences her phone and turns it face down on the desk.

“Focus. You can do this. You have to do this. For everyone.”

()()()

Catra hasn’t heard from Adora in two days and it’s wearing on her patience. She’s driven over to the apartment to catch her but every time she goes, Adora isn’t there and a sad Glimmer answers the door. It’s pissing her off. 

For the hundredth time, Catra leaves a desperate voicemail and now she wonders if Adora ever wants to hear from her again. Like Adora has moved on now that she has a life where she doesn’t have to live in Catra’s poor way of life. 

Every moment she thinks of it, she gets angrier and angrier to the point she is now seething. She hangs up the phone halfway through her voicemail and tosses it to her bed before taking off and hitting a bar. 

This is all Weaver’s fault. The slimy bitch got back into Adora’s head and ruined the happiness they had. Catra drinks and then stumbles home with dreams of rage. 

In the morning, Rogelio shakes her awake. 

“The fuck you want?” Catra grumbles through her hangover as he flicks on a light which makes her hiss. 

“You’re going to be late for work,” he signs with annoyance. “You can’t be late again or you’ll get cut from the schedule.”

“When did you start to even care?”

Rogelio ignores her and heads for the door and down the stairs. Reluctantly, Catra throws on some random clothes and an energy drink to wake herself up. 

The whole train ride to work is a blur and every sound makes her head spin with throbbing pain. She can’t drive in this state. She left her headphones at home and she kicks herself for being such an idiot. But, whatever, she’s good for nothing anyway. Both Weaver and Adora seem to be proving that. 

When she gets to work, she is assigned with scaling the high rise and connecting elevator cables to ensure their safety. It’s a fucking hot day and she is beyond dehydrated. It’s when she is climbing up the third elevator when vertigo slaps her across the face and her grip slips. 

She can’t even scream as all goes black. 

A beat passes and she begins to regain consciousness again. She hears muffled shouting and hands all over her and it frightens her. 

Without thinking, she unleashes her claws and begins swiping at anything that dares grab her and snarls with fear to scare the foreign hands away. Her eyes begin to refocus and she finds herself staring up at the elevator shaft and feels cold concrete beneath her. Then her hearing comes back and there is a clamoring of yelling. 

“What the fuck is your problem?!” One of her coworkers screams as he clings to his bleeding arm. 

“Yeah, Catra, what gives?” Another man chastises and covers a filthy red stained rag against his cheek. 

Catra attempts to growl back but her throat is too dry and she’s thrown into a coughing fit that makes her head pulsate with fire. A figure stands over her. 

“Drink this for spirits sake.” It’s her boss. She takes the cup and chugs it messily. “Good. Now get the fuck up and explain yourself!”

She doesn’t move from her spot on the ground and growls. “How about you not fucking grab at me!”

“You fell four stories you fucking asshole! We were trying to make sure you were okay!” one of her hybrid coworkers cries out, blood covering her shirt. “You should be thanking me for catching you!”

“I would’ve been fine!”

“Yeah, because cats always land on their feet,” her coworker, one of the racists ones, jabs with a snarl. 

Catra gets right in his face and spits, “Fuck you.”

“Get your ass to the office! Now!” her boss yells and he sounds like her mom. 

“Whatever,” she throws back and grabs her things, leaving the job site. Then a grunt begs for her to turn around. “What do you want, Roge?”

When she turns around, he signs, “lose this job and Lonnie will kick you out.”

Catra growls at him but knows he’s right. She changes direction for the office. 

()()()

Adora has been ignoring her phone so she can focus on work. She got a second job as a hotel maid down the street and grabbed as many hours as possible. It’s been a few days since she’s actually looked at her phone and when she does, her stomach drops. 

She has dozens of missed calls and text messages, most of them from Catra. 

“Fuck,” she whimpers. She’s been so focused on work that she forgot to tell Catra what she was up to. Adora opens the last voicemail Catra left her. 

“ Hey. It’s me. Like what the fuck, Adora? Did you forget I exist? Do you know how many times i’ve come over to try and see you just for you to not be there? What? Am I not good enough for you anymore so you just dropped my ass after all I’ve done for you? You know what? Whatever.”

Then the line gets jumbled and she hangs up. Adora is crying into her pillow. She fucked up really bad. Royally bad. She can’t lose Catra, she just can’t. 

She calls her and Catra picks up on the third ring. 

Catra is slumped in bed in a deep sleep when her phone starts going off. She answers it without looking. “Hello?” she mumbles groggily. 

“Catra?”

She shoots up in bed and hates how excited and happy she is to hear Adora’s voice. A purr threatens to start up but she fights it down. Adora doesn’t need her anymore. 

“What do you want?” she asks coldly. 

“Catra! Catra, I’m so— so sorry! I haven’t checked my phone in days. I’ve been—“

“Not even a fucking text to tell me ‘hey, Catra, my girlfriend, I’m alive and well!’,” she mocks. “And now you come crawling back when you remember my existence? I’m not some toy!” Catra doesn’t care if she is overreacting. She’s been bottling up so much rage that she has been anxious to release on someone. She wants it to hurt. And it hurts a lot when she hears Asora’s sharp intake of breath. 

Adora feels tears run down her cheeks. “No! No, that’s not it! I got sidetracked and wasn’t thinking—“

“I don’t want to hear it! I’ve done so much for you and you can’t even give me the time of day?” And now Catra is crying. Crying because she misses Adora. “What the fuck?” she sobs over the phone. “I fucking miss you.”

Sobs fill Adora’s room. Her head spins with fear, anxiety, and dread that she could lose Catra. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she cries through heaving breaths. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“Well you did, Adora. And Im fucking tired.”

“Are you home? Hang on, I’m coming over,” she blurts out and grabs Bow’s keys. “Bow I need the car! It’s an emergency!” she shouts into the house and Bow doesn’t get to respond before she’s out the door and rushing down the stairs. 

“Adora!” he calls out to her. “You don’t have a license!”

She ignores him and starts the car. She has to get to Catra and fix this. 

“Catra, I’m on my way,” she tells her and the moment when she gets on the main road, her vision doubles and her head spins. “Just stay home and I’ll be there,” she slurs out, hanging up the phone as Catra yells at her to stop driving. 

“Fuck!” Catra cusses and calls Bow. “Bow! Adora just took your fucking car!” she shouts when he answers. 

“I know! She left before I could do anything. She doesn’t have a license and she is in no condition to drive right now. We’ve been struggling to get her to eat and sleep and just sit down for 5 minutes. I’m getting a Taxi and I’m following after her to see if I can catch up to her,” he states while he puts on shoes and grabs his wallet. 

“Good idea,” Catra says and gets dressed as well. “I’ll be down stairs. Keep me updated.”

()()()

She’s driven before. It wasn’t always legal but she does know how to drive. When she first moved in with Glimmer, Angella and Micah taught her the basics so she would know if it was something she wanted to get a license for. Living in the city means she’s fallen out of practice because public transport is so convenient. Since moving back in with Glimmer, she and Bow have been getting her used to it again so if she ever needs to drive one of them for an emergency, she can. 

A license to drive is required unless you have a licensed adult with you in the passenger seat. Adora has made it around the block and to the grocery store just fine, so getting to Catra’s shouldn’t be hard when she’s taken the route so many times and knows the city and can avoid scary intersections and roads. 

The only thing that’s different now is that her body is too tired to feel anxious. She is in no state to be doing this but her body isn’t awake enough to be rational. 

Adora can’t keep her eyes open. She isn’t sure when the last time she got more than 3 hours of sleep was. The thought of losing Catra sends her into a spiral and cold sweats rack her weak body. Her vision is going in and out and she slaps her face to stay awake but to no avail. Cars pass by in a blur and she can’t remember where she is. There are horns honking but they don’t register. Did she use her blinker back there? Everything is a fog and her body feels heavy. 

She doesn’t see the light turn red.

Chapter Text

Next thing Adora knows, bright lights fill her sight, blinding her. She goes to block the light with her arm but it doesn’t move. She tries the other but it’s being weighed down. Turning her head, she sees a figure slumped over on the side of the bed she’s lying on. Wait, when did she get in bed? Last thing she remembers was coming home and talking to Catra—

“Catra!” she calls out and whimpers in pain at trying to speak, her chest protesting at the sudden jolt and her throat feels sore and hoarse. 

The figure next to her shoots up and several frantic voices call out. 

“Adora? Oh my gods—“ 

“I’ll get the nurse!”

“Adora, can you hear us?”

“Adora!”

She squeezes her eyes shut and tries to shield her ears from the outbursts. It’s all so much and it’s freaking her out a bit since she can’t open her eyes against the harsh light to take in her surroundings well enough. 

“Adora?” a soft voice, Catra’s, asks more gently. “Baby? I’m here.”

Adora whimpers with relief and grabs aimlessly for her girlfriend. After a moment she grabs hold of something furry and feels finger’s interlace with hers. “Catra? Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me, please,” she begs and pulls her close, trying to open her eyes again but everything is still fuzzy. She recalls the voicemail Catra left her and begins to panic. “Please, please, please--”

“I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere,” she promises and Adora feels lips press to her wet cheeks. “I got you. I’m here.”

“Im sorry,” she cries. “I meant to call— I meant to talk to you—“

“Idiot, that’s what you’re worried about right now?” Catra chuckles through a wet throat. “I’m just glad you're alive.”

Adora tries to open her eyes again. It takes a few moments but they adjust. The room is dimmer than the first time she tried to open them and she is grateful. She turns to take in Catra’s face. The girl looks tired but happy, smiling with the remnants of tears down her face. “What’s going on?”

Catra rubs thumb over her eyebrow to relax her when she hears the heart monitor beep more quickly. “There was an accident. You were driving to come see me but then you ran a redlight, like an idiot , and got hit.” Tears stream down Catra’s face and she bares her fangs. “Adora, what were you thinking?”

Before Adora can think of a response, nurses and doctors come into the room to check her vitals as Catra is pushed to the side. It turns out it’s the next day and Adora had to go under a bit of surgery to fix the splintered bone fragments in her left arm from the impact. Her torso is a bit sore and she has a concussion but other than that, she will make a quick recovery. The break was on her left arm, at the middle of her Ulna, and the doctors say it will take 4 weeks to heal but possibly sooner since she is a First One. So, that’s good news, at least.

Glimmer stays in the room to talk to the doctors until Angella arrives from work since she is her emergency contact. But before she can get there, 3 law enforcement socerers enter the room.

“Are you Adora Armstrong?”

Adora nods. The head officer gives her a hard look with hands on his hips.

“You’re lucky you didn’t hurt anyone. You caused quite the pile up with this stunt. The victims involved won’t press charges as long as you receive psychiatric treatment and your license privilege is taken away.”

She’s shaking with relief, so glad that no one was hurt other than herself. If anyone else was injured or worse, she doesn’t know what she would do. “I’m sorry.” It’s all she can think to say. She has let so many people down lately and it leaves her feeling dejected. “This is all my fault. I accept all the repercussions.”

The officer doesn’t budge at the apology but does relax his stance a bit at the sincerity in her voice. “Since you are awake, my fellow officers here are going to ask you some questions or you can wait until you have a lawyer.”

“Mom is 10 minutes out,” Glimmer says to her and Adora nods. Angella will help her get through this legal jargon. 

“And one other thing,” the officer says. “By Etherian Law, since you have been deemed a danger to yourself and others, there will be a security officer posted outside your room until your hearing.” 

“Okay. I want to wait for Angella before I answer any more questions, if that’s alright.”

The officer nods and they step out of the room. Catra, Glimmer, and Bow rush to her side and Adora can’t look them in the eyes. “Fuck,” she mutters as she grips the sheets. A sob builds in her throat and she’s too tired to hold it in at this point. It bubbles to the surface and her body aches with pain as she shakes and rattles with tears.

“I’m so sorry. I ruined your car, I can’t afford these bills, I ignored you guys-- I’m such a failure,” she wails and Catra climbs into the bed and holds her close to her chest.

“You aren’t a failure,” Glimmer tells her as she rubs her knee through the thin sheets. 

Bow is rubbing her back. “You just need some help, Adora. You’re going to be okay.”

Catra wraps her tail around the blonde and whispers, “We forgive you. I forgive you. I’m not leaving you. I’m sorry for not being more understanding.”

Adora shakes her head and fights the urge to hold Catra and give in. “You shouldn't forgive me. All I’ve done is cause trouble for you guys. I’m such a--”

A loud hiss fills her ears and Catra pulls back to glare at her. “Adora, stop putting words in our mouths and trust us to be honest with you. No one thinks you failed. Why can’t you see that we care about you, no matter what?” Adora stares back with wide eyes, finally meeting her strong gaze. Catra looks away and then looks back at Adora with ferocity. “Why can’t you accept that we love you?”

Adora chokes on a sob. “You love me? But-- but--I used you. I used all of you! All I do is cause problems! How can anyone love me? ”

Glimmer whimpers and sits on the bed to be in Adora’s line of sight. “You are so, so hard on yourself, Adora. You’re family to me! We would do anything for you. Not because we see you as some-- some chore! But because, believe it or not, we like you, Adora. We love you. And we want you in our lives everyday and all we want is for you to be okay.”

Rubbing her back some more, Bow says, with tears in his eyes, “It’s okay to not be okay. You’re hurting and trying to do this all on your own. I can’t even imagine how hard this must all be for you.”

“Really fucking hard,” Adora mutters through fresh tears. 

Bow nods in understanding. “You aren’t alone, Adora. We are here for you. Every step of the way. You just have to let us help you.”

“Always,” Catra murmurs as she kisses her head. “Always be there for you. We want to be there for you. Asking for help doesn’t mean you are broken or weak.”

“It’s having each other that makes us stronger,” Glimmer sniffles with a smile. 

Adora slowly wraps her arms around Catra and cries. “I’m so tired. I’m so, so tired and scared.  I don’t know what to do.”

“That’s why you have us,” Bow says softly.

“We love you,” Catra tells her, and then says, more quietly, “I love you, Adora. I always will.” She buries her face in Catra’s neck.

“I love you, too,” Adora says. Feeling the weight of the world come off her shoulders as she sinks into Catra’s embrace. 

()()()

Her hearing date is set and Adora’s mind reels as the officers tell her that one family is stepping forward to see Adora do time in prison. This is going to be messier than they thought.

The doctors want to keep an eye on her for another 48 hours and Catra wants to stay, they all do, but they all need to get back to their jobs. Before they leave, Glimmer pulls something out of her bag.

“Catra said to bring this,” she supplies and hands Adora her book from Mara. Catra blushes and her tail thwips the bed hard. 

“You need something to do while we are gone,” the magicat mutters and Adora gives her a soft, grateful smile.

“Thank you. I needed this.”

Adora waves them off and lays in bed, cracking the book open and begins to read page one. She has a lot to think about.

Soon, she is cleared to go home and a tracker is placed on her ankle to ensure she doesn’t leave the premises. It will be removed in a week when the officers feel she won’t be a danger to any one again. Catra visits everyday and they talk about what happened between them after she left and Adora went radio silent. It’s a lot to take in when Catra explains her side of things and it takes even longer to talk Adora down from another spiral of guilt. They hold each other a lot, more so than they have ever done and it greatly helps them unwind and relax. 

Catra stays the night when they get Adora back home and Adora finds sleep escaping her, even in her lover’s arms. 

()()()

The court date is here and Adora dresses in the nicest clothes they could find at the strip mall. Catra takes off work to be there and sits right behind Adora. She feels better knowing she is near and within reach. Bow even let Catra borrow a simple suit to look nicer for court since Catra didn’t own anything upstanding enough for such a formal occasion. As intense as everything is, Adora is flustered thanks to Catra’s outfit and she makes a note to tell her how handsome she is later.

“Will the defendant please stand,” the judge commands. Castaspella, her lawyer, stands, bringing Adora with her and Adora swallows. Castaspella is Glimmer’s aunt and is an attorney for criminal court but offered to take Adora’s case. Apparently, she is not one to be messed with and has a reputation for being cutthroat when it comes to defending her clients. That fact helps ease Adora’s worries. “State your case and how do you plea?”

Castaspella clears her throat. “My client, Adora Armstrong, pleads not guilty, your honor. Because of mental impairment.”

Adora was prepared to plead guilty and take whatever punishment they were going to serve her. But Angella and Glimmer got her to come around and see that, even though Adora caused this incident, she is not the one at fault and that the jury would see her not guilty with the case they have prepared to defend her. She doesn’t really understand everything and tried to research what she could. But, in the end she decides to let the professionals do the job. She’s trying to be better about not taking control of everything and letting others help her.

“And the prosecution?” the judge asks.

“We ask that the defendant be sentenced to 3 years in jail and have her license suspended for 5 years with regular psychiatric evaluations.” It’s a ridiculous plea, Casta says, and that they have a good chance at winning because of it. 

The judge nods and the trial begins as the two attorneys give their opening statements. Castaspella really moves the court with details of Adora’s upbringing and everything Adora has done to make things right. Adora doesn’t like having her background be on display to gain pity and remorse from others, but if this is what it takes to clear her, then she will put up with it. Ever since Adora left the home, she tried to compartmentalize everything, but this trial is forcing her to face it. 

When the prosecutor gives his statement, Adora feels bile in her throat. He discusses how Adora denied help and has acted recklessly her whole life and chose this life when she was given every opportunity to be ‘better’, he says. Behind her, Adora hears Catra growl and Glimmer crack her knuckles. 

Moving on from that, witnesses are called to the stand to vouch for Adora. Angella, Glimmer, and even Catra are called up. They are all asked similar questions and Castapella asks questions that help protect Adora’s character while the prosecutor does what he can to taint her image and make her seem like some ungrateful child.

It’s when it’s his turn to question Catra that the prosecutor makes a grave mistake. Everytime the man tries to get Catra to slip up or get her tongue twisted to reveal something damning about Adora, Catra proves him wrong. There isn’t a single question the man has asked where Catra didn’t answer with incredible confidence and pride for Adora.

“Adora ignoring you must have hurt,” he asks, pacing the floor. 

“It did,” she states simply with a shrug. 

“Would you say she was manipulative?”

“Never,” Catra says immediately. 

“But she ignored your messages when all you have done is help her. Now that she has a place to live and money to spend, she stops talking to you. And then uses their car for a selfish adventure and ends up in a car wreck. Couldn't she have been using you for your money as a ploy to satiate her own selfish needs?”

Catra snorts loudly, making the prosecutor frown at her. “Selfish needs of what? What does that even mean?”

“To gain sympathy and use your money for herself--”

“Do you know how many times Adora has paid for our dates when she literally had nothing? How many times I offered her money only to be turned down? Adora has had every opportunity to live in a house and offered good food only to turn it down every time.”

“Wouldn’t that make her self destructive? Isn’t that behavior what got her here in the first place?” he argues, losing his claim. 

Catra shakes her head with a laugh. “Adora has only ever wanted to protect people. She refuses to be a burden on anyone at any time. She’s the kindest, most selfless person I have ever met and I think everyone here could learn something from her. I love Adora, and she would never willingly do anything to hurt anyone.”

The prosecutor swallows. “No further questions.”

That’s when Catra steps down from the stand and everyone prepares for the attorneys to make their final statements, but it seems this is far from over. As Catra heads back to her seat, the back doors of the room open and her blood turns cold as a growl erupts from her throat.

Adora sees her change in demeanor and follows her line of sight to see Sharon Weaver glide into the courtroom. Her breathing immediately picks up and Casta puts a hand on Adora’s shoulder.

“Are you alright?”

“That--that’s my foster m-mother,” Adora stammers and Catra puts herself between Adora and Weaver’s line of sight. 

“Your Honor,” the prosecutor says, “I call Sharon Weaver to the stand.”

Glimmer and Bow shoot to their feet. “What?!” they both shout and the judge asks for order but Catra doesn’t listen. She refuses to let Weaver ever look at Adora again. She can’t physically comfort Adora right now but she will stand and be a physical force for her if that is what she needs.

“I said order! Settle down! Sit down!”

“Catra,” Adora says softly. “Sit. I will be okay.”

Catra’s tail flails and her ears pin back, not taking her eyes off Weaver who has moved into the courtroom and taken the stand. Castaspella gets to her feet and approaches the stand to get clearance for this witness. Slowly, Catra heads back to her seat and leans in towards Adora.

“Hey, don’t even look at her.” Adora pulls her eyes away and looks down at her hands. “Remember our first date? How that guy across the room had that stupid hat on? I want you to draw him for me. Draw what we ate and the logo on the restaurant. Can you do that for me?” she orders softly and smiles when Adora nods her head and picks up a pen and paper.

“I love you,” Adora tells her with a small smile over her shoulder.

“I love you too, princess. I won’t let her hurt you.”

()()()

The judge agrees to a ten minute recess so that Castaspella can think of some questions for Weaver.

“Is that allowed?” Glimmer growls at the situation. When they were in highschool, Adora never spoke about her home life. It wasn’t until she aged out of the system and actually lived with Glimmer for a little bit did the girl learn how bad the abuse was. She hasn’t seen Weaver since Adora moved out and got in her car, and she kind of hoped that would be the last time. 

“Because of her relationship to Adora, yes it is, unfortunately,” Casta explains and writes down some notes. “But I think this could be good for us.”

Bow stares at her in bewilderment. “What? How? She’s a master manipulator, she is a pro at turning people’s words against them.”

“And I am a damn good lawyer,” Casta says with a smirk. “I have seen her name come up a few times in our systems. I am going to make sure she is an unreliable witness and have her voice thrown out of the court.”

Adora is breathing pretty heavily. “She can slither out of anything. You have to surprise her or she will get you when you least expect it.” 

Catra holds her hand tighter and makes a suggestion. “You could try and get her arrested while you are up there.”

Everyone turns to look at her.

“What? If she has been in the system this much, I’m sure we could get her to confess to something and get her thrown in jail. It will sway the jury to Adora’s side if they see how much of a monster Weaver is.,” Catra explains.

Casta nods as she rubs her chin. “That’s a good point. She was most likely picked because he wants to make Adora seem like some rebellious child. I’m going to contact my assistant to dig into some of the records at the police station.”

“Tear her apart, Aunt Casta,” Glimmer says and Catra squeezes Adora’s hand again. The blonde has a distant look in her eye. 

“Adora, tell me what you’re thinking.”

She swallows and blinks as she comes back to her body. “She’s going to be right there and there is nothing I can do. I have to just sit and deal with it like I always did.” Catra lets out her claws and scratches down Adora’s back and it helps her loosen up a bit. 

“Hey, you’re going to be okay. We will get her.”

Adora takes a deep breath and turns to Catra with a hopeful smile. She can’t— she won’t let Weaver get to her again. She’s going to prove Weaver wrong. With Catra and everyone by her side, she can do this. She trusts them to protect her now. “We’ll get her.”

Catra gives her a big kiss and the group walks back into the courtroom. 

()()()

“From what I see of your reports about Adora, you mentioned, quite frequently, how difficult she was to control and care for. Can you go more in depth about that?”

Weaver is comfortable in her chair. The whole room stares at her as she takes the attention of the room. Directly in front of her sits Adora who won’t even look up at her. She wants to snap at her for being so disrespectful. 

“Adora was a special child. It’s why she never was adopted out of the home. When I wasn’t disciplining her, she was disobeying orders behind my back. She became very disobedient and would sneak off in the night or not even show up to her classes. She was quite the handful, you see.”

The prosecutor pulls out another file. “Here it is marked that she snuck out of the house on 7 different occasions between the age of 12 and 17. Any idea where she was going? What she was doing?”

Weaver sighs and gestures with her hand. “One night I caught her at a friend's house, another she was found drinking, underage, out in the city.”

“She participated in illegal activity?”

“Yes, and I think she did it more often than I thought. Adora was very…creative that way.”

At the table, Weaver can see how strong of a grip Adora has on her pencil, still refusing to look up. She sucks her gum under breath. 

“Would you say she had an addictive personality?” the prosecutor asks as someone walks into the room and hands Castaspella 3 thick manila folders. Curious. 

Weaver wants to grin at the question but masks it with a frown. “A better way to put it, is that she seeks out trouble. Much like that girlfriend of hers.”

“Can you point her out for us and address her for the records please?” he asks. 

With a crooked finger, Weaver points to Catra. She has to bite back on a smile when she sees how furious Catra is as she attempts to glare daggers at her. Maybe she can get her to pop off in the middle of the trial?

“Right behind Adora, Catra De Leon.”

They go through some more anecdotes of Adora’s behavior and what it was like being her guardian to which Weaver stated to be ‘exhausting’. Adora catches some of the jury members frowning at her. The prosecutor returns to his seat and Casta stands and approaches Weaver. 

“Is your chair comfortable, Sharon?” She addresses Weaver by her first name and it makes her eye twitch, needing to correct her but doesn’t. 

“Quite.”

“You seem oddly comfortable up there. Almost as if you are enjoying this whole ordeal.”

“Is there a question you want to ask of me?” Weavers tests before the prosecutor can even breathe the question to the judge. 

Casta paces the floor. “Yes. You are happy to see Adora be punished, aren’t you?”

Weaver squints her eyes. “I do think this is a long overdue wake up call for her.”

“In your reports, you only ever talk about Adora. What about the other kids under your care? How did they react to a child disobeying you?”

“The other children did not get along with Adora. They obeyed me and when they saw how Adora behaved, they avoided her. Everyone of them was perfect, unlike her.” That gets an emotion out of Adora and Weaver relishes in how she stiffens and Catra tries to settle her. 

“I see, because in the reports I found, the children under your care, on average, took the longest to be adopted. Perhaps your parenting skills aren’t as effective as you may think?”

The question makes Weaver scowl a little bit. “I took on some of the more difficult children. Ones with special needs or traumatic backgrounds and even hybrids. I had my work cut out for me.”

“You think you’re good at your job? Effective?”

“Yes, I do.” What is she getting at?

Casta walks over to the monitor and plugs in a USB. “What I am about to show is images that some—no, all of you will find disturbing.” She clicks the file open to a picture of the outside of Weaver’s home. “Looks normal, right?” Weaver swallows, recognizing the picture. Knows who took that picture. “This next slide is on the inside.”

The image slides over to show a picture of a dark house with peeling walls and splintered floorboards. The furniture is dated and the walls are bare except for a mirror in the living room. Another slide shows the kitchen to have missing cabinets and broken table legs. 

“Group homes don’t get a lot money and support, so to a social worker, this is what it is in that part of town. But what they never checked in Sharon Weaver’s house is the basement.”

She clicks a button to pull up an image of a chained door, rusted with patina. 

“Only one person, aside from those living in this house, have seen what is beyond this door.” Weaver begins looking for an exit. 

The next picture makes the whole room gasp. Weaver keeps her face as stoic as possible. 

The picture reveals a room specifically designed for black magic. There is a cauldron and forbidden glyphs carved into the walls. Chains and tables with restraints fill the extra space. 

“The person who took this picture disappeared three days later. A reporter named Cobalt Jennings.” Casta saunters up to Weaver. “How about I show the jury the other pictures I have on file?” Weaver stays quiet. 

Leaning in, the judge asks, “What other pictures?” Casta steps away to open a new file. 

“It pains me to show these and we have blurred out the victims faces to protect their identity.”

The second the picture comes onto the screen, Weaver is releasing her shadows, trapping every one, as she flees for the main exit. People began to scream and run, trying to escape her dark tentacles. Before she can make it to the door, Glimmer appears in front of her with a staff thrumming with magic. 

“No you don’t!” she hollers and blasts Weaver directly in the chest, knocking her back and into the arms of several sorcerer enforcers that slap cuffs on her. Weaver snarls as her magic dissipates into the metal cuffs and cranes to look at Casta. 

“How!? How did you get those pictures!?” she screams. 

Castaspella glares at her. “I’ve had my eye on you for a long time, Sharon. It was easy to track this down when your ex business partner turned you in to save his own skin about 30 minutes ago. Hordak and his minion Imp gave us all the information we needed.”

Weaver should’ve known better than to trust those two fools. She’s dragged away, kicking and screaming and the court is left in shambles. Adora watches her go from where she is curled into Catra’s side on the floor. Catra holds her tight as the officers work to put the room back in place. The second Weaver twitched to leap for the exit, Catra hopped the barrier and pulled Adora out of the way of the shadows. Adora still had her head down and never would have seen it coming. 

Once the room is back in order, they finish up the trial with closing remarks. The prosecutor is quite shaken and gives a weak conclusion whereas Casta owns the floor and presses that Adora needs help, not punishment. That the poor girl has been through enough torment at the hands of a dark sorcerer for long enough. 

The jury is only out for half an hour before returning to the room and saying, “Not guilty.”

Adora turns around to catch a jumping Catra in her arms. The room fills with cheers and the judge makes a final announcement. 

“Adora, please take these treatments seriously and seek help. In the meantime, this court will make sure Sharon Weaver remains behind bars for a long time.”

With a grateful smile, Adora beams at the judge and the jury as she holds Catra close.

Chapter Text

It’s been 2 months since the trial and Adora has been visiting with a therapist 2 times a week and has started on some medication. She hasn’t felt this good in probably her whole life. The idea of taking medicine originally scared her, but when she saw Catra get back on hers, she felt more at ease about it. As it turns out, Adora’s paranoia wasn’t unjustified when they learned that Hordak’s minion Imp was stalking her the second she left the home and was how Weaver found her. Adora sleeps a lot better knowing all of her assailants are doing time.

Although she isn’t licensed, Catra is seeing her friend, Perfuma, about her mental health until she can afford a legitimate one. One day, she and Catra go on a double date with Perfuma and her girlfriend Scorpia and that’s how Adora learns about the daycare they run here in the city. The two explain what it’s like working in childcare and the sound of it is actually quite appealing to Adora. To be able to work with and care for kids has Adora feeling something close to want in her chest, but she hasn’t spoken up on it yet and Catra knows something is up. 

“Do you want to visit the daycare?” Catra asks one day when out getting groceries with Adora.

Adora folds and unfolds the grocery list in her hand. “Why would we do that?”

Catra grabs some things off the shelf and puts them in the basket. “Just to check it out. You seemed interested,” she pushes.

Taking in a steadying breath, Adora nods. “Sure. Can’t hurt.” Catra smooches her on the cheek.

Later in the week, the two drop by and Adora is beaming the whole time as she gets a tour of the center. Adora asks questions and soaks in all of the information she can about the center as Perfuma guides them through the halls. They even get to meet the kids Scorpia looks after and Adora is quick to get on her knees and greet the kids. She interacts with them so gently and carefully and it amazes Catra how natural it seems to come to her. Maybe it’s because she grew up with so much on her plate when it came to looking after her foster siblings, but either way, Adora seems so in her element that Catra asks Perfuma for the employee contact sheet.

When they make it back to the main entrance, Adora looks sad to be leaving until Perfuma hands her a pen and paper.

“Adora, would you mind writing down your contact information for me?”

“Why?” she asks, completely oblivious to their plot from earlier.

“Because I think you would be a great addition to our team.”

Adora becomes sheepish. “I...uh…”

“Adora,” Catra interjects, “I don’t think I have ever seen you smile that much since I met you.”

“I really love them,” she whispers.

“And they will love you, too. Give it a shot,” Catra urges her. Adora thinks for a minute before she nods and writes her name and phone number.

“I will give you a call,” Perfuma says with a smile and Adora beams.

Now that the job obstacle is taken care of and Adora seems more excited about life, Catra has another step to take to ensure that Adora is truly going to be healing and working on herself.

Catra and Adora are snuggled up on the couch at Catra’s place watching some TV. Yeah, Adora has gotten better, but Catra can still see the stiffness in her muscles and the bags under her eyes. Just because Weaver is officially gone and she gets to vent a couple times a week doesn’t mean Adora is actually healing. Catra does what she can to help Adora relax but it seems sex and making out is the only effective course of action. Not that Catra is complaining, but it does give her an idea. 

She just hopes Adora is willing to do it. 

Leaning out of the hold, Catra sits cross legged on the couch and fully faces Adora, turning off the TV. 

“I want to ask you something. It’s not bad, so don’t freak out,” Catra calms her when she sees her eyes go wide with anxiety. “It’s just been on my mind for a while. A long while, actually,” she says with a fierce blush. 

“What is it?” Adora asks, getting more comfortable on the sofa to look at Catra with big curious eyes. 

“Remember that munch we went to? How you learned about the dynamics and fun we can have during sex?”

Adora smirks. “Heh, yeah. Did you want to try something new out?”

Catra rolls her eyes. “Yes, but it’s not what you think. There are things I still want to explore with you, but this is different. So, just, hear me out real quick.”

“Okay,” Adora says and holds her hand. 

“So, the whole dominant and submissive dynamic can actually go beyond the bedroom. Basically, you stay in the role even in regular daily life things.” Adora nods slowly. “I was thinking, we could try that. Together.”

Adora frowns. “I’m confused.”

Catra rubs her face. “Let me give you an example. Okay so you know how when we have sex I tell you what to do and you obey me? Well, we can extend and expand on that situation to where you are always submitting to me.”

Across from her, Adora’s eyes go a bit hazy and Catra feels like Adora is getting the wrong idea. 

“Let me put it this way: you will be mine and report to me and obey me and I will be your sir unless I say otherwise. Make sense?”

Languidly, Adora nods and wets her lips. “Okay.” Catra strokes her cheek. 

“Hey, come back here, dummy.” Adora’s eyes clear up a bit more. “Red. I need you to be focused on me.”

“Sorry,” she chuckles and Catra smiles at her. 

“I just want to make sure you are understanding all of this. I feel like this could really help you work through a lot of things. And don’t take this the wrong way, but I feel as if you need some more guidance as you navigate through life right now. With everything that’s happened, I think this could really help you heal and work through a lot of trauma.”

Adora flushes. “Yeah. I’m needing more…help than I realized.” Therapy has been great and she is learning a lot about herself, but doing the homework she has been assigned and keeping up with her tasks has shown to be more difficult to do than she thought. Adora will follow directions perfectly, but when it comes to managing herself, she freezes.

“This is something I think that will help me too, Adora. I have a lot of things I haven’t worked through in a healthy manner and I think this would be a great way for us to be…more ourselves, ya know?”

She nods and tucks her knees into her chest. “I can see that. How much would change?”

Catra is now the one blushing. “I have some ideas.”

“Like…?”

“There is an app for your phone where basically dominants can keep tabs on their submissives. It tracks things like your schedule, when to take medication, and even a section for setting up a reward system.” Adora perks up at the word ‘reward’ and Catra smirks. “It would be a way for me to keep tabs on you, as well as help us build trust and keep an eye on each other like a check in. We use the color system to safeword if one of us doesn’t like something.”

Adora gives her bright eyes. “I like that idea.” Then pulls out her phone. “What’s the app called?”

The two explore the BDSM app and learn how it works and how they want to use it. Adora is giddy with excitement with Catra’s suggestion to use the app. It’s neat and organized and easy to follow. There is even a chat tab so she can keep Catra updated on her daily activities. This way, their D/s doesn’t get confused with their normal texting. 

“We should make a shared calendar!” Adora suggests with sparkling eyes. “That way we always know where each other are and what we are up to.”

“Yeah, we can’t have another miscommunication situation again,” Catra says without thinking and immediately regrets it from how fast Adora deflates. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. You’re right. If I was more responsive to you and had you to look after me, that probably would have never happened.” Bow and Glimmer’s car was totaled that day and Adora is still trying to pay them back. It keeps her up at night, especially the night terrors of how the car came right at her and then having to go to court--

“Hey, it happened and we are moving on from it,” Catra tells her. “Everyone is okay and no one is mad at you.”

Adora lets out a shaky breath and nods, leaning into Catra. 

“Now, let’s set up this calendar, princess.” 

()()()

It takes some adjusting, but after a few weeks, the two are seamlessly living as a 24/7 D/s couple. Every morning, Adora wakes up and opens the app to give Catra the details of her morning. Catra has her alert her when she takes her meds, and Catra puts trust in Adora that she does and won’t lie about it. Then Adora types in what she has for breakfast since Adora is notorious for skipping meals when stressed. Since beginning this dynamic, Adora has put on a healthy amount of weight that has helped fill out her face, chest, and hips. She was gaunt for so long she forgot what it was like to have energy. After that, she kisses Catra goodbye and heads out the door to work and texts Catra her departure since she didn’t want to wake her.

It’s a lot of extra steps and it involves Adora to be very connected to her phone, but she feels so much better knowing she has Catra looking after her. All she wants is to be good and make people proud, and this is an excellent way of doing it. She stayed the night at Catra’s so she made a note to get a couple pairs of fresh clothes before she heads back for the night.

She walks to the bus station with a smile plastered on her face and a pep in her step. Not only is she loved by the greatest person in the world, she also has started working at the daycare center with Perfuma and Scorpia. 

For days she panicked that she would be a poor influence on the kids because of her upbringing. But Perfuma says that is what makes her perfect for the job. Because she knows how one is meant to be treated and that Adora has a naturally nurturing soul that the kids will cling to. 

Stepping into the workplace, Adora feels motivated to be good. Not because she is scared of what would happen to her if she wasn’t, but because she is loved and knows how to love in return. 

Catra’s alarm blares in her ears as she rolls out of bed. As she uses the toilet she checks her phone to see how Adora’s morning went. Adora knows to wake her if something is wrong, but she can never be too sure. Smiling at her phone, Catra sees that Adora did all of her tasks for the morning and even texted her when she got to work safely. 

Catra: you are such a good girl

It’s what she sends Adora, knowing exactly what it is going to do to her and snickers to herself. She pockets her phone and eats breakfast before getting in her car with Rogelio as the two head for the construction site. 

Catra’s phone lights up in the cup holder with a response from Adora when sees it as she stops at a red light.

Adora: Always good for you, sir

And Catra has to settle herself at the name ‘sir’. 

“Touché,” she mutters to herself because Adora wanted a response out of her as well. 

In the passenger seat, Rogelio snorts. “I see that’s working out for you guys?” he asks with his hands. 

“Dunno what you’re talking about.”

“I’m happy for you,” he says and Catra coughs to hide her blush. 

“Sure.” Honestly, if it weren’t for Rogelio’s suggestion to make BDSM a full blown lifestyle, Catra wasn’t sure it would actually be effective. She and Rogelio are close, but not that close so when he brought it up on the way home from work one day, she was shocked. That was until Kyle pulled her to the side and told her how much closer the three got by having the dynamic. Now that sent Catra into a spin of embarrassment. Kyle was so open and willing to discuss it with her that Catra wanted to gag, but the more they talked, the more it appealed to her. The three of them have trauma of their own to work through and if BDSM can help Kyle get over his parents death, then it has to help Catra with her abandonment and anger issues. 

She worries about hurting Adora. People love to point out the fact that magicat’s are feral at heart and shouldn’t be trusted so going into this took a lot of will power for Catra. But, then again, Catra was never a people pleaser and loves to prove any racist wrong whenever she can. Breaking stereotypes is kind of her forte and she wants to break all of them with Adora. There is still so much she wants to explore with Adora but she doesn’t think she is ready for it yet, she knows Adora isn’t, but she is hoping to get there one day.

For now, she is happily patient and content with the life that they have together. They love each other, and that’s what matters most during this time. 

It’s when Catra comes home from work one day that there is a change. Not a bad change, but an obvious spike of libido from Adora. She is sitting on Catra’s bed, surfing through her phone with a massive blush in her face and short breaths. 

“What’s so interesting about your phone, princess?” Catra dares to ask, shrugging off her jacket and climbing next to a scrambling Adora. The blonde is quick to swipe out of the tab she was in and sit straight up, looking anywhere but at Catra. 

“Just—uh— exploring more about what it means to be a submissive.”

Catra’s ears go straight up and she flushes. “Yeah? Do you want to talk about what you found?”

Adora sighs. “There’s no use hiding it from you. So…I listened to that recording I took at the munch again and it has me thinking of things.”

“Are you ready to dive into this stuff?” Catra asks, because they both agreed to keep things pretty vanilla in the bedroom while they adjusted to this new dynamic. She can’t lie, Catra has been aching to do some more kinky stuff in the bedroom, but she doesn’t want to push Adora. Plus, they don’t have their own place to really dive deep in that stuff in a secure bedroom. 

Resting her head on Catra’s shoulder, Adora presses a kiss to her lover's neck. “I know we can’t really…explore the majorly sexual stuff right now. But I’ve been researching ways for us to have fun in the meantime. I always just want to be more versed in bdsm in general.”

Catra’s chest swims with desire. “I’ve had some ideas in mind. But I didn't want to pressure you into anything with how delicate things have been,” she confesses slowly. “I would like to do more with you, if you feel up to it.”

Adora leans into her ear, breath hot and heavy enough to make Catra’s whole body shiver. “I’ll obey your every command, sir.”

Weighing her chances, Catra realizes they have a bit of time until the trio come up. Adora is already worked up, so she should come fast and come hard. Catra pins Adora to the bed and when she gets Adora’s consent, her hand is down her pants. 

“What did you have in mind for us to try?” Catra asks, nibbling her neck as she massages her precious clit. “Tell me.”

Through a whine, Adora pants out, “G-gags— unh—I want you to gag me.” Catra’s eyelids flutter at the thought. 

“Keep talking or I'll stop.”

Adora nods. “Want you to spank me.”

She sinks two fingers inside Adora and the blonde cries out. 

“Want you to strap up and take me. Fill me up-- ah-- oh, Cat--”

“What else?”

Adora moans so loudly she has to cover her mouth. Catra slows down and she pulls her hand away to make Adora remain obedient. “I want you to tie me up and do what you want to me. Tell me what to do and- and --” Her fingers sink back inside thrusting with purpose into her most sensitive spots.

“And what? ” Catra growls the question and it makes Adora throw her head back, humping her hips to Catra’s rhythm. 

“ Collar me, own me. Please-- fuck!” she cries. Catra wants to do all of this and more and pulls her fingers out to rapidly rub Adora’s clit.

Catra snarls in her ear as she peaks. “I want to make you mine.” The words send Adora over the edge. As Adora comes back down to herself she has a hunger in her eye that Catra loves about her. “Fuck me.”

Adora dives into her task of taking Catra’s pants off. In the meantime, Catra tells Adora her kinks to fuel her lover onward.

“I want to make you a good girl,” she groans as Adora’s tongue gets to work. “My good girl who does everything I ask.” Adora moans into her clit. “Collar you, pull you by a leash. Gag your pretty mouth and reward you with pain I know you want.”

“Please,” Adora mumbles against her wet folds. Catra strokes her hair and tugs on her ponytail.

“Use you how I want. Make you feel so good and sexy-- just like that, baby. Don’t stop,” she moans, high and breathy when Adora gets a rhythm going. “Want to tie you up and make you take my whole strap-- fuck--” she grunts out, cumming and shaking as she pulls Adora to her pussy by the hair on her head. 

Adora kisses up her body when she’s finished and mumbles, “I want all of that, need all of it. Please, sir.”

Catra kisses her fiercely, licking up her face. “Anything for you.”

()()()

Until they get their own place and save up money, they get creative with their kinks. Adora gets ribbon from the closet of gift wrapping boxes to wear as a pseudo collar in the meantime. 

Catra comes over the night she finds it and is quick to have Adora all to herself after dinner with Glimmer and Bow. 

“Show me,” Catra commands when the door shuts behind them. Adora shivers and goes to her bedside drawer to pull it out. 

She hands Catra a lacy red ribbon at least an inch thick. Catra feels it run through her fingers, the soft thread, the ridges in the fabric… the power of this limp ribbon. A tingle runs through her spine as she slips into her dominant head space.

“Color?” Catras asks to which Adora’s breathing becomes thick and heavy.

“Green.”

“On your knees,” she commands as she points to a spot on the floor. Adora is quick to obey and looks up at Catra with dark eyes full of excitement.

Catra walks up to her and pets her head and cards her fingers through her hair until Adora’s ponytail comes free. “My good girl. You want me to put this around your neck so badly, don’t you?”

Adora nods with a whimper. “Yes, sir. Please, please!”

Humming, Catra comments, “I think you can do better than that.”

The blonde fidgets and her eyes go wider. “Sir, please collar me. Make me yours and use me however you want. Being yours is all I have ever wanted.” Her eyes flutter shut. “Please-- please.”

Catra chuckles and feels a calm wash over at Adora’s words. “ Good girl.” She brushes Adora’s hair out of the way and ties the ribbon around her neck gently. Adora sighs in content as subspace floods her senses. Catra lifts her chin up with one finger so their eyes meet. “You’re all mine, princess.”

A moan leaves Adora’s lips and Catra commands her to undress and lay back on the bed. Catra gazes down at her and feels her thighs dripping wet at the sight of her lover so submissive to her.

She undresses quickly, far too worked up to go through with her slow and steady plans and it seems Adora feels the same from how her hands fidgets with the sheets as Catra crawls on top of her. Catra licks up her body, holding her down by pressing her shoulders into the mattress. She takes one of her pert nipples into her mouth and licks it rapidly and Adora cries out, but with her reflexes Catra slams a hand over her mouth to silence her. Adora gushes between her legs at the action and Catra leans into her ear.

“Your sounds are all mine. I’m going to fuck you how I want and you’re going to be a good girl for me and take it.” Adora nods stiffly, restrained by Catra’s hand and it makes her wetter. “You like when i man handle you, huh?” She nods again but with a whine this time. “Use your words.”

“Mmm-- yes-- yes, sir. I love it when you are rough with me.” Adora whimpers out, muffled, and gasps when Catra nips her neck.

“Gods, you are such a sexy girl for me.”

Catra resumes her tongues exploration of Adora’s body and removes her hand when Adora quiets herself. Adora is twitching with need as Catra takes her time with her and Catra rewards her with kisses every few moments to keep her satisfied. Before Catra goes further she asks for Adora’s color again. Her response is a growled out green.

She sheathes her claws and fingers her opening, gathering the wetness there before moving to her clit and rubbing her until she falls apart with a cry. Adora quivers as she cums but Catra doesn’t stop circling her clit and it makes her heart race pleasantly.

“Again,” Catra orders with a growl and Adora sinks into the mattress as she lets Catra fuck her how she wants. It feels fucking incredible. All the while, Catra watches her intently with raging passion.

On her third orgasm Catra towers over her, one hand tugging her hair to reveal her neck and claim it with her fangs as she pumps into Adora’s G spot. The blonde clings to her lover as tears streak her face.

“One more, I know you have one more for me,” Catra breathes, ragged from how turned on she was at seeing Adora melting into a mess beneath her.

“O-one more for you, sir--” she moans out when a high pitched whine drives out of her as Catra curls her fingers inside to her sweetest spot and rubs her palm perfectly on her clit. Adora curls in on herself, nearly spasming as she soars to the peak and shudders with the aftershocks as Catra gently rubs her down and stops. Catra keeps her fingers inside until her pussy releases its vice grip on her. Then Adora goes limp and slumps into the bed with heaving breaths.

Catra removes her fingers and licks them clean as she pulls Adora to her chest and nuzzles her  face. With Adora’s nod of approval, she removes the ribbon from around her neck. For a few minutes, Catra just lets Adora breathe and sigh as she compliments her. Telling Adora how good, sexy, perfect, and wonderful she is. How grateful she is to have Adora in her life and gets to see her like this.

Eventually Adora opens her eyes and looks over to Catra with a winning smile that Catra returns.

“Hey there,” Catra whispers and brushes some loose strands from Adora’s face. “How’re you feeling?”

Adora is in a moment of shock and awe. She’s too blissed to really show it on her face but her body is thrumming with joy and love as she looks into Catra’s glowing eyes. The curve of her lips and angles of her ears. Adora feels overwhelmed at how much she loves Catra. From the way Catra feels in her arms to her mannerisms and squeaky laugh. Her purrs and claws and, gods, her dominant side.

To think Adora almost lost this. But she has this, and it’s not a dream. The thought makes her lurch with a sudden sob.

“Adora?” Catra asks with immediate concern and cups her cheeks.

With a wet laugh, Adora tells her, “S-sorry, I just love you so much. You m-make me so, so happy.”

“You adorable goof,” Catra says with a growing wet chuckle and sniffle. “I love you, too. I can’t get enough of you, baby.” She leans forward and kisses Adora deeply, softly rolling their tongues together as they work through their emotions. “Mine.”

Adora chuckles warmly. “Yes, yours. But you are also mine.”  

“All yours, Adora,” she agrees softly.

Chapter Text

It would be their first valentine’s day together. This was both exciting and nerve wracking as both of them dug through their brains for something special to do for each other. 

Adora comes over to Catra’s place and finds her cooking in the kitchen. Some pasta for dinner, just the two of them. Music blares through the speakers as she walks in the apartment and wraps her arms around her girlfriend. 

“Hey,” Adora says as she kisses her ear. Catra chuckles with a smile. 

“Hey you.” Catra cranes her neck back for a proper kiss that they both melt into. 

Dinner is delicious as always and when the kitchen is cleaned up they sit in the living room to watch some random action movie. 

“Adora?” Catra asks into the comfortable silence, her lover in her arms as they lay down. 

“Hm?” Adora responds. 

Catra swallows. This has been on her mind for weeks. She wanted something special, something just for the two of them to help Adora unwind. 

“You have permission to say no,” Catra tells her and Adora is more alert now and she looks at Catra with earnest eyes. It gives her courage to ask. “I rented us a room at a love hotel. What do you think— go wild with me?”

She can hear it, the quickening pace of Adora’s heart when the question sinks in. The way her eyes dilate and she wets her lips. Adora nods, shakingly, then nods again with more confidence. 

“Catra, that’s all I want,” she says with a low moan that sends straight to Catra’s pussy. 

The magicat chuckles, glee melting her senses as the two lean towards each other, laughter building in both of their throats. When their lips meet, the laughter consumes them entirely. 

“You make me so happy,” Catra whispers against Adora’s swollen lips when their giggles have died down. Adora has her hand running up under her girlfriend's shirt, feeling the goosebumps in her fur. Feeling how real this moment is. 

Adora leans back and smiles wide, happy and content. She seems to feel that way a lot with Catra. Things have been amazing since the two of them have gotten their mental health in check. As well as the addition of their bdsm lifestyle.

“So, what did you have in mind, sir?” Adora asks, fluttering her eyelashes and grinning mischievously when Catra growls in the back of her throat.

Catra crawls over the top of her, laying out on Adora’s chest as she walks her fingers up her lover's arm. Adora’s hands tighten around her waist as her tail swishes behind her. “I would make you wait and see, but since this is our first time really getting serious, I want us to talk it out.”

“I agree,” Adora says and visibly relaxes beneath her. “I like the sound of that.”

Catra kisses her on the lips. “How do you feel about being gagged? Collared? Tied to the bed while I fuck you through the mattress?”

Her eyes flutter shut and a whine fills the room. Anyone would think she was told some horrible news. Rather, it's the complete opposite. Adora is elated and vibrating with emotion. Her hands readjust to Catra’s ass and she squeezes, pulling her lover's crotch against hers.

“What day is it? How long until Valentine's Day again?” Adora asks breathlessly. “Because I need all of that. I need you to fuck me like that.”

Catra cackles into a purr and licks a long stripe up Adora’s neck, claiming her. “Patience princess. Four more days. Think you can last that long? Be a good girl and wait for the day for the best fuck of your life?”

Adora sucks in a sharp breath, her eyes widening with something akin to fear and excitement. “Oh–oh gods.” Fuck, Adora loves a good challenge but she is so horny it hurts. “Fine, I wont cum before you have me then. But, you can't come either.”

Catra smacks her lips. “Deal.”

()()()

Adora almost didn’t make it. Catra teased her everyday with nudes, making her libido spike and swell with energy begging to be released. But she didn't cave in. She wanted to prove herself and be good for Catra. Be good and ready for this experience. 

The door to the room opens and it's dimly lit with silky red sheets on the bed. Catra closes the door and Adora immediately gets on her knees, as per Catra’s request when they were in the elevator on the way up. Not a moment later has Catra put Adora’s new white leather collar on the blonde. 

“Strip,” Catra commands and steps back to watch Adora get out of her clothes. Adora does it carefully and slowly, fighting the instincts for instant gratification with her orgasm. “Now me.” And Adora obeys, relishing in seeing Catra’s body again. Yes, Catra has been teasing her with nudes, but nothing compares to feeling her soft fur and perky tits in real life. The smell of her gentle cologne.

“Good girl, Adora,” Catra says softly and kisses her slowly. Adora whimpers into the kiss, so happy to feel her and be rewarded. Her thumbs brushes across her rosy cheeks as she leans back and orders, “Now lie back on the bed for me. You’ve waited long enough.”

Adora damn near scrambles to the bed and lies back on the cool sheets, melting into the comfy mattress as Catra crawls on top of her, kissing up her body. All the while Adora keeps her hands still, not wanting to do anything Catra doesn't want. Not when they are in a scene as delicate as this.

“I’m going to take care of you, then you can take care of me.” Adora nods and utters a soft yes, sir. 

Catra pulls the covers back to reveal some soft rope that she ties around each of Adora’s wrist. The feeling of the rope has Adora entering subspace already, she’s still on the surface, but she can feel herself slipping. She hums in pleasure. Once she is bound to the bed, but her legs still free, Catra gently runs her claws up and down her sides, kissing her neck and chest with small flicks of her tongue. It would normally send her into a frenzy but rather it brings her peace. Letting go and not being in the driver’s seat feels divine. She trusts Catra completely.

Leaning over her, Catra reaches for the bedside drawer and pulls out the ball gag she bought Adora for her birthday. Adora smiles at the sight and closes her eyes again. Catra leaves a lingering kiss on her parted lips before tying it around her head and mouth. Once secured Catra speaks softly into the quiet room.

“You're so beautiful, baby.” Adora’s eyes burn with love and she sniffles a bit through the gag. “I know, I know. This is intense. I got you,” Catra reassures her. “Snap once for slow, two for stop, remember?” Adora snaps her fingers accordingly and nods. Catra kisses her nose and jaw as she purrs and marks her. “Green?” She nods again. “Perfect. I love you.” And, oh, Adora wants to say those words back so badly.

Catra kisses down her body, gently tweaking her nipples as she sucks marks into her breasts. It leaves Adora quivering and soaking wet. Catra leans back on her heels and spreads her legs, bending them so she's on full display. Adora blushes but widens her legs for her and it makes Catra grin with her fangs on display which makes Adora moan through the gag. She trails her claws along her thighs, careful not to draw blood but enough for it to sting and make Adora squirm with pleasure.

“Take a deep breath, I’m gonna strap up,” Catra notifies her and slinks off the bed. Adora closes her eyes and obeys, breathing deeply as she listens to Catra get ready. Then the bed dips again and Adora reopens her eyes and looks down to see Catra grinning at her. The toy is teased through her dripping folds and Adora whines through the gag, watching Catra work her over. One of the many things Catra finds so sexy about Adora is how wet she gets. This girl never needs to be lubed up, Catra just has to call her a good girl and they are set. Still, she rubs the head of the didlo over Adora’s clit for good measure, making her twitch and shake.

A muffled please comes from Adora but Catra doesn’t deny her. No, she wants Adora to feel pure bliss. She guides her cock back to her entrance and gently presses in. In and out, pushing more inside, then pulling out and back inside to prepare Adora who is a moaning mess. It doesn’t take much but soon Catra is sheathed inside Adora and holds the position with minor humps as Adora adjusts to her.

Catra fucks her slowly, purposefully. She wants Adora to feel high tonight, so she takes her time, kissing her neck and fondling her breasts as she pumps into her. Drool and spit leak from around Adora’s mouth where the gag is and it’s the sexiest sight for Catra. She made Adora this drooling, whining, happy mess and she loves it.

“I love you, you are so fucking sexy for me, princess.”

“Mmmmf-” Adora groans out and tries to rock her hips with Catra’s. But she holds her hips down.

“No, you are mine to use tonight, remember?” And that has Adora sinking further in subspace, pushing her to greater relaxation. Adora nods and whimpers. “Lets take it up a notch.” 

Catra picks up the pace. She’s on her knees with her hand gripping tightly onto Adora’s hips as she smacks their thighs together, fucking her deeper. Adora can’t stop the screams that leave her throat, and she hasn't snapped her fingers, so Catra doesn’t stop. 

Adora’s whole body bounces with each pounding thrust as Catra fucks her faster, and faster still. Catching her breath, Catra switches to deep, purposeful thrusts, letting Adora come down from her peak, not wanting her to cum yet. She feels down right feral at getting to have Adora like this. Fuck. 

Leaning down to her ear, Catra grips her drool covered chin and growls, low and deep. 

“You like being taken?”

Adora whimpers a yes through the gag and Catra pounds into her roughly to make her squirm. 

“That’s yes, sir , princess.”

Catra releases her chin and leans back up to finish what she started. 

“Color?” She asks her submissive. Adora signs the hand letter for G, meaning green and Catra lets loose. 

Adora is seeing stars as Catra lights her body up like a fire as she pounds her pussy. She’s never been fucked this hard in her life. Tears roll down her face and her jaw hurts from biting on the gag so hard, but she doesn’t want it to stop.  Her orgasm is approaching and it’s going to be massive, she can tell that much through her subspace. Catra is twisting her nipples and hitting her back wall expertly.  Then it’s here, her back is arching and her throat scratches from the moans flying out of her. But Catra doesn’t slow down, she keeps up the fucking and relentless speed as Adora rides wave after wave. 

Adora crescendos and collapses onto the bed in heaving breaths. The dominant haze fades from Catra’s mind as Adora’s post orgasm moans fill the room. Catra pulls out gently and removes her strap, the gag, and the ties on Adora’s wrists so they can cuddle. Adora can barely move so Catra lays beside her, snuggled up and kissing her neck. 

Eventually, the blonde turns to face Catra and a wide smile covers her face. 

“That was fucking amazing.” It’s an understatement, her jaw still sore as she speaks. “ You are amazing.”

Catra smirks and leans over her, kissing her on the lips deeply and slowly. “You were perfect for me, Adora. Such a good girl,” Catra whispers to her. “I’m so glad you felt good.”

Adora wraps her arms around Catra, pulling her down to hold her. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

Slowly, she regains her energy and Adora asks, “How can I service you, sir?”

Catra chuckles and kisses up her neck. “Your jaw must be sore so I won’t make you eat me out. Just give me your fingers. I’m so worked up after that.” Adora gets them on their side and kisses her sweetly. 

She runs her hand down Catra’s body and cups her soaking heat. Catra immediately humps into her hand and sits on top of Adora, needy and far too horny. Adora’s fingers slide inside her pussy with ease and her clit pressed into her palm for her to grind into. 

“ Fuck,” Catra moans and lays over Adora as she fingers her. Adora uses her other hand to grip the base of Catra’s tail and captures one of her nipples in her mouth where she lays on top of her. “Shit-fuck— Adora!” She cries out. 

Catra cums quickly but feels no shame. Not when Adora makes her feel this good. They lie in bed and hold each other close, panting. Then Adora begins to laugh. Joy bouncing out of her body in chuckles. 

“What?” Catra asks her, smiling at the pretty sound. 

“Sorry, that sex was just so good I couldn’t help but laugh!” 

Catra purrs loudly, smugly before joining in on the laughter. Because it’s true. Best day ever. 

()()()

It has to be a joke, Catra thinks as she heads to her car. She just left the office after being called in because they want to give her a raise . A raise?! And it’s a good raise too, so good she and Adora can think about getting a place together. 

She rushes to her car and calls Adora. The line rings a few times and Adora answers. 

“Hey babe!” she greets and Catra can’t stop from blurting out—

“Adora, I got a raise at work.” Silence. Then…

“A raise?!”

“Yep!” Catra confirms and feels her eyes water. “Finally got a fucking raise and it’s good baby, it’s great.” Catra still can’t believe it. On the other end of the phone she can hear Adora squealing. 

“Catra! That’s awesome! Wow!” she says with so much amazement. “You deserve this and more baby, oh my gods.”

Catra squeaks a laugh. “Thank you. I’m on my way home right now. I’ll see you soon and we can celebrate okay?”

She drives home with a massive smile on her face, making her way to Adora’s place. Parking her car, she gets out quickly and flies up the apartment steps to her friend's door. Glimmer and Bow answer the door and engulf her in a huge hug. 

“Catra!” “Congratulations!” They both cheer and Catra sputters from the affection, not used to it. 

“I see Adora told you?” she squeaks and Adora comes running around the corner to join in the hug. 

“I told them!”

“She told us!”

Catra can’t help but laugh. A real, true laugh. “Thanks guys.”

Catra can’t remember her mothers ever congratulating her like this. Since meeting Adora her whole perspective on life has improved. She isn’t afraid to accept love from others and return it. Her eyes meet with Adora’s, and normally Catra is afraid to show such affection in front of people, but she pulls her into a kiss by the hips. Adora melts instantly and gives out a soft moan as her arms circle around Catra’s shoulders. 

She ignores the awwww from the roommates and focuses on pouring her gratitude into the kiss and gets lost in the feeling of her lover's lips. 

()()()

Her mood has greatly improved since the raise and one night she comes back to find Glimmer and Bow to be gone and Adora in the bathroom. Catra takes time to sit on the couch in the quiet and revel in the peace she feels. 

The bathroom door opens. “Baby?”

“It’s me,” Catra replies and gets up from the couch to see Adora’s pretty face—

“Good evening, master.” 

Catra’s tongue catches and sparks fly up her body. Heat pools in her pants as her tail lashes behind her as she takes in the view. Adora is in a red lace bra and thong, her collar with the leash around her neck as she swings it around her fingers idly. 

On Adora’s face is a massive flush. She’s embarrassed and smells of nervousness, Catra notices. Adora has never called Catra master before and she feels conflicted at the title. 

Adora takes a small step forward from where she was cleaning their toys and struggles to maintain eye contact with Catra. She takes Catra’s hand and places the leash in it then gets on her knees. The tremble in her hands is obvious and it snaps Catra out of her stupor. 

She clears her throat and swallows. “Good evening, my pet,” she says gruffly. “What is your color?”

Adora squirms and doesn’t answer. Catra tugs on her leash. 

“Tell me, pet.” Adora exhales and flutters her eyes to meet Catra’s. 

“Yellow,” she answers softly. 

“Speak. What’s on your mind?” Catra knows this is a scene but she has to know what’s going through Adora’s mind. Understand the boundaries. 

“I wanted to try something new. Since your raise at work you’ve been much more dominant and sexually active. I…I thought this could be fun for you.” Adora looks at her with pleading eyes, a coy smile on her face. 

Catra releases a shaky exhale and gathers her thoughts. “I…I want to try this, Adora. But you seem nervous.”

“Yes, sir, I am.”

Catra nods. “Let’s go lay down. Get more comfortable and talk this through.” She leads Adora to the bed and closes the door and they both lay down. Catra lays on her side and pulls Adora to her chest, feeling her girlfriend relax against her. 

She peppers her face with kisses, runs her hands through her hair, anything to relax her. Adora was never into lingerie, it’s always itched her so Catra knows she is uncomfortable right now. 

“You look so sexy right now, Adora,” Catra murmurs into her ear. “Delectable.”

Adora shivers from the praise. “Only sexy for you, master.”

“Tell me more,” Catra prods. 

She nods and says, “I want to try more. Not just for you, but for me. Learn more about myself and our dynamic. I think I would really have fun being your pet. Possibly even… your slave.”

Catra’s body lights up again in the most pleasant way. “I want that. This. To take you on a whole new level. What about you?”

“I’m ready,” Adora says. “I want to be your pet. Your slave tonight, master.” There is conviction in her voice that Catra knows and understands as Adora being ready. 

“Color now?”

“Green,” she says breathlessly and Catra’s switch flips.

“Back on your knees, pet.” Catra probably shouldn't enjoy calling someone her pet as much as she does, since it's been used to demean her her whole life. But none of that matters when she sees Adora’s eyes light up from the command and name. Adora obeys and her face is eager, all nervousness gone now that they know what they are in for.

Catra takes off her pants and underwear, leaving her shirt on, as she straps up and stands before Adora. God, Catra loves how Adora looks up at her. “Prep my cock, slave.”

Adora is quick to her task and takes Catra’s length in her mouth completely and easily with all the practice she has gotten. Catra doesn’t want a cock, but having Adora treat the toy like it is is extremely hot. She feels powerful and so in control, she can’t help but thrust into Adora’s mouth. She moans as she lavishes her cock, Adora is loving it just as much as Catra right now. Catra tugs on the leash, forcing Adora to take more of the toy and she chokes but doesn’t stop. Her eyes water but her moans are louder. Oh, Catra could get used to this. Adora loves to make people feel good and service them, and she is so, so good at it right now.

Catra can hardly see straight. She needs more. “Fingers inside me, now.” Adora swiftly brings a hand up to Catra’s hip while the other gathers the wetness of her folds and it makes Catra shiver. Adora slips one finger inside, then another and Catra’s head rolls back.

It doesn’t take long for her to cum like that. Her knees nearly give out when she does. She pulls Adora off her cock by the leash and Adora gasps and coughs, swallowing in fresh air for the first time in a while. Catra is enamored with how disheveled she looks, the tears running down her red cheeks. The way her hair sticks to her sweaty face like a border for her dark eyes. Catra wants to make her feel good.

“Such a good slave. They weren’t kidding when they said you were one of their finest. I chose well,” Catra teases for the scene. It makes Adora giggle and Catra joins her. “I’m going to fuck your pussy and make it mine. Come here,” Catra growls and lays back on the bed, her cock erect for Adora who climbs on top of her.

“You looked like you loved that, sucking me off, making me cum,” Catra prods.

Adora nods with a smirk. “No one better could have picked me, you fit perfectly in my mouth. I couldn’t take enough of you, master. What will you do with me now?”

“Now, I’m going to reward you for being so good and sexy. I want to see your pretty pussy filled with me.”

She guides Adora up and pushes her underwear to the side, because Catra is going to see her cum in this gorgeous lace. Slowly, Adora sinks on top of her. Breathing heavily as Catra fills her up, stretching her out. When fully hilted inside her, Catra tugs Adora’s leash and pulls her in for a heated open mouth kiss. Then Catra begins to buck her hips and Adora cries out, so worked up from the scene and making Catra cum. Catra spanks her, hard, and Adora moans loudly, wildly, as Catra thrusts inside her. When Adora gets close to cumming, she pulls out and Adora sobs but doesn’t object.

Catra flips them and she dives for Adora’s pussy with her tongue, tasting her wetness. Then Catra replaces her tongue with her fingers and rubs over her clit with expertise while she ravages her neck, marking her around the collar. With her other hand, Catra hangs on to the leash and grips both of Adora’s wrists as she holds her down.

“Mine, all fucking mine to use. No one else can have you, Adora.”

Adora sobs and her back arches harshly. “ Yours!” Is all she can gasp out as she cums, whining high and long as Catra continues to rub her clit with quickened speed. She knows Adora can cum again, so she pushes her. And sure enough, there’s another wave and Adora cries out more desperately. Her body curls in and she quakes with her orgasm. Only when her body twitches from her fingers on her clit does Catra remove her hand and pulls a breathless Adora to her chest. 

“Mine. All mine and perfect,” Catra praises her. Kissing her deeply and rubbing her back. “Let’s get you out of these clothes. I know how itchy they make you.”

Adora nods, humming as she sits in the glow of her orgasm, boneless. Catra undressed her carefully, not wanting to ruin the nice underwear. Her collar remains on, she doesn’t want to be in control yet and Catra is fine with that. She loves getting to take care of Adora. 

Catra also removes her shirt, much to Adora’s delight who nuzzles into her furry chest and feels her downy fur. 

“How’re we doing?” Catra asks and Adora buries her face further into her boobs, wrapping her arms around Catra’s midsection. 

“Perfect. That was intense, but fun, master.”

Catra purrs loudly. Damn, that’s growing on her. “Good. Can I take your collar off? End the scene?” It’s time for them to check in and go over what they did. And she needs Adora out of subspace to do it properly. 

“Okay,” Adora says a bit reluctantly but sits up either way for Catra to have access to her neck. With the collar removed, Catra tucks them into bed. “So,” Adora begins, “at first I was worried about all this, but in the end I…I ended up really loved being used by you. I knew you would treat me right and make me feel good. And you getting to do what you want made you feel good, which made me feel really good. That was just really fun. I don’t think…” she hesitates and Catra kisses her, pushing her to speak and it gives her confidence. “I don’t think I can do that often though. I was so far gone. It was great! Don’t get me wrong, babe, but wowza.”

Catra nuzzles into her neck to hide her blush. “Yeah, I got carried away, myself. I’ve never felt that way before. It felt good to cut loose but also was a bit much for me to handle. I had a lot of fun, though.”

She leaves her hiding place and looks at a blushing Adora. “It was really hot. I came seriously hard, baby. It just takes a lot out of me.” The droop of her eyes emphasizes this. “Can’t do this too often. Keep it to special occasions?” she asks hopefully.

“Special occasions,” Catra agrees wholeheartedly. “I felt almost feral,” she laughs and Adora smirks, grabbing her plush ass.

“I know how much that scares you, but I loved every second of it. Promise.”

Catra nods with a lovesick smile. “You’re perfect, Adora.”

“No, you,” she fires back with a chuckle and they share a kiss and head for the shower to call it a night.

Catra may only see herself as some tool or weapon, something to be ashamed of, but Adora makes her feel completely loved and needed. And Adora feels like a walking disaster who has to prove her worth every chance she can get, but Catra turns all those negative thoughts around and makes her feel necessary and worthy without needing to try.

Chapter Text

“Catra, you got this,” Adora says as she rolls the lint roller over the back of Catra’s blazer

“Okay. Yeah. Got this,” Catra repeats to herself, nodding as she adjusts her blazer. She’s trying to keep her cool and Adora knows it. “Adora, lint roll anymore and I won't have any jacket left.” She’s not the only one stressed out, it seems.

Adora gives an embarrassed smile. “Sorry!” And pulls the lint roller away. “I got carried away there.” Catra smiles at her in the mirror in the bathroom. Her suit looks brand new, despite having got this from a second hand shop. She turns around to face Adora and they share a loving moment, taking each other in. “You’re going to do amazing. They’d be idiots to not promote you.”

Catra can feel the depression telling her otherwise but she fights it off and tries to remain positive, clenching her hands to hide their shaking. It’s her moment of truth today.

Today she is being interviewed for the promotion at her work. The promotion she’s been waiting for for years now. She has to nail this. Along the way she has screwed up a lot but she’s come to learn self love and care and to see that, in retrospect, she is more than qualified for this position. The imposter syndrome threatens to weigh her down as the world has always told her she’s just a street animal. But she now knows she’s more than that. No, she isn’t a fucking street animal. 

“If any one is going to get this job, it’s you , Catra,” Adora tells her with so much confidence that Catra feels it. 

The two rest their foreheads together and share a soft kiss then Catra heads to grab her car keys. Rogelio is waiting for her by the front door. 

“Let’s do this.” Rogelio nods with a gruff snort and Adora smacks her ass as she walks out the door.

Catra looks back with a raised brow. Adora simply shrugs with a smirk. “For good luck.”

“You’re gonna get it when I get back, princess,” she says with a wink that leaves Adora red and Rogelio gagging.

()()()

Catra takes her seat outside the interviewers office. Eight other employees are potential hires for this role and leaves Catra a mess since she is one of the only hybrids to be selected. Hybrids are so essential to the labor force that it's hard for them to get bumped up the ladder where they live. But Catra is determined to prove people wrong, no matter where she lives.

“Catra De Leon?” the man from inside the office calls out. The door is cracked open and Catra steels herself and heads inside, shaking the man's hand before sitting down. Here we go.

40 minutes later she walks out of the office and many people eye her, knowing how much this means to Catra as she walks out to her car to grab her work clothes and change. When she gets to her car in the lot, she pulls out her phone and texts Adora.

Catra: done. 

Not even a second later Adora responds.

Adora: Hey! How’d it go?????

Catra : my jaw hurts tbh that man had a million questions to ask

Adora: That’s good! Interviews usually shouldn't take that long. It has to be a good sign.

Catra: lets hope so. time for work babe. love you

Adora: Love you too!!!! Smooches

Catra smiles at her phone and tucks it away while she changes in her car and heads to work.

When she gets back to Adora’s place that night, they celebrate with a spaghetti dinner and watch a funny movie that Catra falls asleep in the middle of. The stress from preparation and heavy workload today wore her out and she snuggles in Adora’s arms who holds her close.

Adora is so proud of Catra and knows how tired she must be from everything. Her girlfriend hasn’t been sleeping well from stress and anxiety so she doesn’t wake her, and tells Glimmer and Bow not to either. The movie ends and Adora gently wakes Catra by rubbing her back.

“Hey,” she says softly. “Can I take you to bed?” Catra looks at her blearily, checking to make sure the other couple isn’t looking.

“Yeah,” she says, because she is truly out of energy and being carried by Adora feels oddly good. Adora nods and scoops her up effortlessly and takes them to bed. 

She pulls Catra to her chest and kisses her hairline. “You’re amazing, you know that?” Adora tells her and Catra’s face reddens.

“Sap.” Adora giggles and flicks off the light. “Thank you,” she says softly, sincerely. She couldn’t have done without Adora to back her up. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

()()()

Everyday at work, Catra continues to push herself to do her best. She pushes herself so much she practically falls asleep right when she gets home every night. Adora is a little sad about this because it means less time with Catra but has a strong gut feeling that all of this hard work is going to pay off for her lover.

She pictures Catra working hard on the job site and gets turned on at the thought. Shit. Catra is passed out next to her and is way too tired for sex but she really needs to rub this out. They havent had sex in over a week and its getting to Adora.

Adora gets up quietly and heads to the shower and begins touching herself. She’s soaking wet as she presses her fingers inside and curls, imagining it’s Catra fucking her. When she cums, she feels a lot better and less itchy and more prepared for bed. She dries and gets into her pajamas and sneaks back under the covers with a snoozing Catra. She pulls the covers over herself and pulls Catra’s back to her chest and leaves a small kiss on the back of her neck.

Catra hums pleasantly. “Love you so much Adora.” The words come out slurred from sleep but Adora knows what she said and it makes her smile, falling more in love.

“I love you so much too. Night.”

“G’night.”

When Catra wakes from her alarm, Adora is plastered to her back with an arm around her waist. Adora grumbles at the sound of the alarm and holds her tighter. It makes Catra smile and turn in her arms to kiss her lover on the lips. The last thing she wants is to leave this tiny bed and be away from these strong arms. 

Adora hums into the kiss and yawns when they part. “Don’t go,” she murmurs as sleep threatens to take her again. “Take the day off. I miss you.” 

The plea is so cute and it charges her chest with warmth, making her purr. Adora hums in response, a sleepy grin on her face. “If I get promoted, I’ll be making enough money for a vacation. Go anywhere you want, how does that sound?” Catra says, an idea forming in her head. She misses Adora terribly and wants nothing more than to be with her all the time right now. These 10 minutes mornings of bliss help Catra get on with her day. But perhaps she can give them something to look forward to that’ll make things easier. 

“Really?” Adora asks, more awake now and a bit excited at the idea of a vacation. She’s only been on a couple to the beach with Glimmer and her family. “I don’t even know where we would go, there’s so much out there I want to see.”

“Me too, princess. Give it a think today, alright?”

Adora smiles widely and kisses her. “Yes, sir.” Catra purrs louder and reluctantly gets out of bed.

When Catra leaves, Adora calls Angella. 

“A vacation sounds like the perfect thing for you two, I can help in any way possible! You know how much Micah and I see you as our own child. We would love to spoil you in some way,” Angella says, hope in her voice at being able to do something for her.

Adora bites the words that threaten to come out. The words that say she doesn't deserve her help after everything that has happened. But she's better now, and wants to continue to get better, not just for herself, but for everyone. “That would be amazing, actually. Catra has been working her tail off to save money so we can get our own place and get her a new car. But… my biggest obstacle right now is where to go. I’ve never even thought about this before! Do you know any places that would be relaxing for us?”

Angella hums for a moment then Adora hears her snap her fingers. “I will make a list of places that you two can get to. I will pay for the plane tickets– no arguing about it. I have so many unused airline points that need to be used soon. I will get back to you later today when you get off work, sound good?”

She says as a question but Adora knows there is no room to interject. “Sounds great, ma’am. Thank you so much, really. I love you.”

“Love you too,” she smiles and hangs up the phone. Adora smiles widely and leaps out of bed to get her day started, a pep in her step.

She had a fantastic day at work and played a new game with the kids she looks after. Some game called Twister. Apparently it is really popular and the kids were shocked she didn’t know what it was, and it reminded Adora of how much of a childhood she missed out on thanks to Weaver. Knowing the bitch is in jail brings her an immense amount of comfort that she didn't know she could ever feel again. In a way, through these kids, she gets to experience the childhood she never got and it makes her feel more colorful and alive. Even if she is a bit older and less agile than she used to be. 

When she gets home, Catra is already there on the couch with Bow playing some video game, another part of the nerd world Adora has little understanding of and plops down next to her lover to watch them play some game called Borderlands. Catra looks away from the screen for a moment to kiss her on the lips real quick before turning back to the game. Adora curls up next to her and holds her twitching tail that responds to her increased gaming adrenaline. She loves to feel it twitch and swirl in her hands, and Catra loves when she pets it. It feels grossly domestic and they both revel in the moment.

Eventually they all head to bed and Adora checks her phone to see that Angella kept her word and made a list with 4 fun places for them to visit on vacation.

They narrow down the list and Catra says, “The spa at Mystacore sounds really enticing. Camping sounds stressful, so does visiting a big city. I think we need to stay low key.”

Adora nods as she pets through Catra’s mane. “Yeah, we both just need something as relaxing as possible. You’ve been working so hard. The only thing we need to figure out now is when we want to go.”

“There’s no rush on this, and the fact we are flying means we can delay when I need to have a car that can handle such a trip.”

“Agreed,” Adora says with a kiss to her ear and hums when Catra begins rubbing her thigh soothingly. “Should we wait until your promotion is in effect and steady so you have more room to breathe?”

Catra snorts. “You say that like I got the job.”

“Ummmmm, because you did? I know these things Catra.” Adora has a smug look on her face that makes Catra fondly roll her eyes. “Lover’s intuition. It’s real!”

“Whatever you say.”

Adora will take that as a win and smiles brightly which makes Catra laugh with affection. It makes her want to kiss her, and she does, cupping her cheeks and using her tongue to feel her sexy fangs. Catra responds with a full body shiver and soft moan that makes Adora melt. 

They’re both too worn out for sex and settle for a very heated make out session that leaves them breathless and gasping. It results in them taking sleepy showers and rolling into bed for cuddling and more kissing, much slower this time around. 

()()()

The rickety car is mumbling its way down the highway as Catra makes her way to work, half awake and sipping a red bull while blaring the latest album from Slipknot. Rogelio does his best to sign the lyrics on the fly to the new music and it makes Catra laugh when he stumbles and curses with his hands. He laughs with her and eventually gives up and settles for just enjoying the music. The two pull up to the job site and head to where their coworkers are. Catra goes to put her hard hat on when one of her superiors, Yates, calls out to her.

“De Leon! You don't need that today,” he says, pointing to her hat. “Come with me.”

Ice immediately floods Catra’s veins. This can't be good. She gives Rogelio a glance over her shoulder  who looks back with a concerned pinch in his brow as she stalks away. 

“Morning, sir,” she greets the man who smiles at her and waves her inside the door of the portable building. 

“Morning, we have something to talk about. Follow me.” Catra follows wordlessly, trying to bite down her fear. They both step into his office and he starts shuffling through a cabinet, looking for something.

Confusion creeps onto Catra’s face but she forces it to remain blank and polite. Her tail twitches with nerves behind her.

Yates has a box and walks it over to Catra, handing it to her. “This,” he says in regard to the box, “is yours.”

With speculation, she takes the box and feels it’s kind of light, but weighted by something. Its rectangular and leather. Fancy, she thinks to herself. Did she lose something? Is this some gift or ploy from Adora? Only one way to find out. Yates stands before her with a wide grin on his face, waiting for her to open it.

Catra takes the lid off, then removes the tissue paper stuffing it. Inside is a dark wooden desk plate with her full name engraved in gold in formal font. She takes it out of the box entirely and holds it in her hands to see there is a slot at the top of it for business cards. Her heart is hammering in her chest, nervous, not out of fear, but of excitement.

“What’s this for?” she has to ask because she can’t take the chance this is a joke.

Yates smiles warmly and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. They’ve worked together for years and he’s one of the few who has always had her back through everything so his touch isn’t a surprise and he does it slowly enough that she can predict it and brace for it.

“Welcome to the team, Catra. You got the promotion.”

Air catches in her throat and she has to force herself to breathe. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious,” he says, nodding his head, biting his lip to keep from smiling too much. Catra was never comfortable with praise, as much as she craves it. She just never wants to be seen as needy for it.

Catra looks back down at the desk plate and rubs her thumb over the engraved letters. Instinctively, she deflects. “You custom made this, didnt you, you sap.”

Yates laughs loudly and shakes her shoulder a bit, good heartedly. Catra feels herself smile a bit, her eyes burning as reality sets in. “Of course I did! You’re the only one for the job. You deserved this, earned this. It only felt right to do it.”

Her mouth opens and closes a few times before she finally says, “Thank you.” And she means it.

“I’m not the only one you should be thanking,” he says and wraps an arm around her shoulders to turn her around and back to the door where he opens it to reveal the whole management team who cheer and whistle when they see her. The boss, Bailey, who was the one picking the candidates, is smiling proudly at her.

“There she is!” Bailey cheers and strolls up to her with his hand out that she takes and shakes firmly. “We are happy to have you on board. I knew it was you from the start.”

The words hit Catra hard, but not like a punch, more like a gust of cool wind that refreshes you after a hard day's work. Next thing she knows, she’s beaming with pride.

“Of course it was me, where would you all be without me?” she says, half serious half joking and that gets everyone laughing. 

They hang out and congratulate her, getting her set up in the system and where her home of operations will be. Catra feels like she’s walking on air.

When they finish up, they let her head home for the day. She heads out and gets in the car. The second the door shuts her eyes fill with tears of joy and relief and she cries with a victorious smile on her face. Feeling like a fucking champion.

“ Fuck yes! ” she yowls to herself. When she calms down she dials up Adora’s workplace and starts her car to head home. The phone rings and Perfuma answers the phone like usual.

“Plumiera Daycare, how can i help you?”

“Perfuma, it’s Catra, can you put Adora on the phone? It’s urgent,” she says, out of breath from the adrenaline that has been her day today.

“Sure thing!” she replies and puts on the hold music.

At the daycare, Perfuma hops from her seat and scurries to find Adora who is watching over some kids playing with hot wheels.

“Adora, Catra is on the phone and says it’s urgent,” she whispers to Adora who bolts from her seat to the phone. 

“Watch the kids for me?” she asks Perfuma, who nods. Adora speedwalks to the main phone, dodging kids as she goes, and picks up the phone. “Catra? Is everything alright?” she asks.

Over the line, Catra squeaks with laughter. “Baby, everything is more than alright. Nothing bad happened, sorry to scare you like that,” she says, feeling bad for worrying Adora like that.

Adora lets out a sigh of relief and relaxes at hearing her love laugh. “Then what’s the emergency?”

“Adora…I got the promotion.” Squeals fill the ear piece and Catra has to pull the phone from her ear. Catra laughs and puts the phone back when Adora stops squealing.

At the daycare, all the kids stop what they're doing when they hear Adora and see her jumping up and down, punching fists in the air. “Catra! Baby! You’re amazing!”

“You can say ‘I told you so’, now,” Catra replies with a roll of her eyes, grinning. Adora bites her lip.

“Lover’s intuition,” she beams. Adora turns around to see all the kids staring at her.

“Miss Adora? Is everything okay?” they ask, their full attention on her.

“Catra got the promotion!” she cheers and Perfuma and Scorpia gasp, running to the phone to congratulate Catra.

The kids all furrow their brows at the unknown word. “What’s a performshun?”

“No, promotion. It means something really awesome that happens at work!” she explains and their eyes light up. They all adore Catra and love when she visits. The kids probably still dont understand what Adora is trying to say but they whoop and holler either way. Catra can hear them and feels her eyes burn. She’s worked so hard for this, and it feels so good to be validated and loved like this.

Catra wipes her nose and says, “Adora? This is really happening.”

The blonde nods and feels her eyes fill with tears as well. “Yeah it is. I love you so much. I cant wait to see you after work.”

“Love you too. See you soon, princess.”

When Catra hangs up, Adora immediately dials up a restaurant. She knew this day would come and it's time to put her plan into action. Catra deserves to be treated tonight.

()()()

When Adora gets home, she embraces Catra and holds her close, smothering her face and neck and kisses with her arms wrapped around Catra’s shoulders.

“I got us reservations for 6pm at the Whispering Woods tonight,” Adora says between kisses, breathless.

Catra pulls back with wide eyes. “Wait, that 5 star restaurant?”

Adora nods with a winning smile. “Yep, we dine like royalty tonight.” Catra dives back in for a kiss.

The two wear their finest attire. Catra sporting a button up and slacks and Adora in some slacks as well with a low cut blouse she bought for this occasion to woo Catra tonight. She catches Catra staring at her chest frequently. 

“They are all yours tonight, after dinner,” Adora whispers in her ear as they walk out the door and Catra’s tail thwacks her ass, making her squeak.

Dinner is wonderful and Catra can’t stop playing footsie with her lover under the table, making Adora giggle beautifully every time. They are utterly smitten and neither of them has felt this turned on weeks. Dessert cannot come soon enough.

They pull up to Catra’s place since the trio is still working down stairs so the couple has some privacy. Catra practically drags an eager Adora up the stairs and slams the door behind them. The two strip quickly and are soon bare and clashing their lips together.

It’s been a hot minute since they’ve properly fucked and they are both very pent up. Energy needs to be released and Catra quickly guides Adora to her bed. 

“Fuck— I need to tatse you and feel you,” Catra growls and shoves her mouth and fingers to Adora’s twitching heat. Adora cries out with moans, feeling exquisite for finally being touched after so long. She throws her head back and covers her mouth with her hands to muffle her screaming. Catra shivers at the sounds she makes and inhales deeply as she surrounds herself with Adora. She has missed her slick warmth so much and feeling it after so long makes her ravenous. 

Catra is still riding the high from today and feels like she could fuck all night. 

“C-Catra— I—“ Adora sputters out between whimpers. 

Her lover's ears perk up and Catra asks, “You close, baby?” Adora nods quickly. “Go ahead and cum, but i’m still not done with you yet.” Adora moans loudly at the order. 

Flicking her clit as quickly as she can with her tongue, Catra hears Adora’s telling sign of cumming and eats her out until she is crushing her head between her powerful thighs. 

“Oh—Oh—Fuck! Catra—!”

Catra pulls back and wipes her mouth with a feral grin. She crawls up Adora to kiss her with hunger. 

“I need to cum again, please,” Adora begs, still twitching. Catra leaps off the bed and opens a shoe box to pull out her strap and Adora smiles widely at the site. 

“You’re only allowed to touch your nipples. I’m gonna freshen this up and I’ll be back, got it?” Catra orders and gives her a kiss before she sprints, butt naked to the bathroom. Adora laughs with excitement and sits up on the bed, her legs wide open for Catra to see her dripping pussy while she tweaks her erect nipples. 

She’s damn near foaming at the mouth so Catra washes the toy twice as fast. As she runs back to the bed she stumbles into the harness and pulls it taut around her crotch. It’s one of their bigger ones. She knows Adora can take it tonight. They need this. Catra runs up to Adora and pounces on her, covering her in kisses and hickeys that make her lover moan and whine. 

Adora’s mind is spinning, this is a side of Catra she’s never seen before and she loves it. She loves her so much and she needs her. “Catra- inside me, I need you.”

Catra sits back and pulls Adora by the thighs until she is laying flat on the bed again. “I’m going to fuck you wild, princess.” 

Adora smirks and that’s all Catra needs for the green light. She lines up her cock and presses in and out slowly. Once halfway inside her lover, she pulls back all the way and forces the rest inside, causing Adora to scream with ecstasy. 

“Holy— fuck-fuck— yes— ah-hah!” She can hardly form a thought when Catra begins fully thrusting inside her, filling her up completely. 

It’s like she’s unhinged. Catra pants as she thrusts and pumps into Adora, watching her gorgeous pink lips take every inch of her inside. She’s high on it and leans over Adora to bite at her shoulder. Adora wraps her legs around Catra but she forces them apart so she can take her cock deeper and more easily. Adora obeys and puts her arms up above her head for Catra to pin her down and submit entirely to her dominant. 

Catra can’t help but fuck her harder at the sight. “You’re fucking perfect. You’re all mine and I’m going to take everything that belongs to me,” she pants between breaths. “When we get our apartment, I’m going to fuck you even harder than this.”

Adora arches her back as she approaches what feels like several orgasms in one. “Pleeeeeease,” she cries, her voice stuttering from the pounding she’s taking.

“My girl, my love,” Catra coos in her ear. “My fuck toy.”

Adora cries out, tears in eyes as wave after wave of orgasms from each pump into her core takes over her body. Catra doesn’t let up and decides to send her lover higher to the clouds, then one last big thrust and Adora’s back arches, almost snaps, as her breath catches and she shivers and shakes with her orgams. Her pussy has a vice grip on Catra as she stays buried inside her, not wanting to hurt her, but to let her feel their connection.

After several moments, Adora finally collapses, breathing deeply with the occasional whine as her pussy clenches with the aftershocks. Catra continues to lean over her and pepper her face with open mouthed kisses as she strokes her still twitching thighs.

“That’s my girl. I got you, I got you,” Catra comforts her and Adora moans, sleepy and gone. When Catra feels Adora melt a bit further into the mattress, she gently pulls out and slips the harness off. “Going to rinse this off then I will be back,” she promises with a deep kiss that Adora can hardly return.

She is quick to get back to her lover who is still spread eagle on the bed and wraps Adora up in her arms and cuddles her close. Soon, the blonde comes back to earth and she hums happily with a silly smile on her face. “Wow,” she says and Catra giggles.

“How you feelin’?”

Adora pulls away and begins to slither down Catra’s luscious body, spreading kisses and licking her breasts as she goes. “I feel like it’s your turn, sir.” Catra eagerly spreads her legs, she hasn’t cum in quite some time, too stressed to even reach an orgasm lately. But with all the weight finally coming off her shoulders she knows she’s going to cum hard.

The second she feels Adora’s tongue on her clit she moans loudly and feels her eyes burn with need.

“Fuck, Adora. Fuck– please–” Catra pleads from how sensitive her nub is. Adora hums against her pussy and it makes Catra shiver and twitch. Her tail wraps around Adora’s forearm from where her hand is twisting Catra’s nipple. Catra hasn’t felt this need for a long time and feels no shame when she asks, “Adora, will you please finger me? I–I–”

She can’t finish the thought, not when Adora practically crams 2 fingers inside her dripping sex and Catra feels her eyes rolls back in her head. Panting and moans fill the small room as Catra thrusts her hips down onto Adora’s face and fingers. Catra has one hand fisted in Adora’s hair and the other has its claws sinking into the mattress above her head. Her toes are curling and her tail is lashing in every direction as Adora fucks her perfectly. It’s everything she needs right now.

Her peak is coming and Catra fucks her lovers face harder and Adora adds a third finger, stretching Catra’s walls so perfectly as she curls her fingers into her most sensitive areas.

Catra cums with a yowl that will definitely earn them a noise complaint.

()()()

Vacation is amazing and they spend a lot of time making out and making love. The spas are a delight and just what they needed to relax. They are so lazy and giddy that at some point when they are back in their hotel room, Adora is nestled between Catra’s legs, gently licking up her sex as a movie plays in the background. Catra’s eyes are closed as she moans deep from her throat, relishing in Adora’s love and adoration for her body and hard work lately. 

Catra is floating and simply enjoying the gentle highs of every tongue flick to her clit and Adora’s  wet fingers slowly rubbing her g spot. Adora wants nothing more than to show Catra how much she appreciates her. Everything Catra has done for her, from the simple check ins, meal preps, gifts, and massages to the extravagant things like the incredible sex and role play, to helping her get a job and plan her money is all magnificent. She loves Catra so much, and she knows how much Catra loves her back. She can’t hold it in anymore.

With one more kiss to her partner's clit, Adora reaches for the remote and mutes the tv then settles back between her legs, having them over her shoulders and licks long stripes from Catra’s entrance to her clit over and over. Catra whines softly.

“Adora… oh…” Catra murmurs.

“Catra…” she says softly, fingering her again while she takes the time to talk. “You are my master, my sir, my owner, my dominant... But most of all, you are my lover, my person, my most desired.” Adora suckles her clit before she speaks again as Catra writhes in the sheets, breathing harder from emotion and her approaching orgasm. “And I love you so fucking much.”

Catra sniffles a bit, overcome with love from the words and the gentle way she is being treated when she has to be so strong for the world. “Ah- A– Adora…” Catra nearly sobs out. She opens her eyes to look down to see Adora’s eyes are misty, just like hers are becoming. “I…” she can hardly get the words out as Adora picks up a quicker pace with her fingers, adding a third to stretch Catra further as she loves her in the right spots.

“I know, baby. I love you too.” Then she dives in, sucking and licking and drinking up everything that makes Catra so wickedly sexy and yet so soft and vulnerable. “You are my everything, and I'm so entirely yours. My Catra.”

It doesn't take that much longer for Catra to cum, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Don’t stop,” Catra moans. “Please don’t stop. More…” she whimpers.

Adora gives her everything.

A couple more rounds and Catra is finally satisfied and happy, purring as she pulls Adora up into her arms for cuddles. Adora pulls the covers up and they stay like that. Packing can wait until later. Right now, they just need each other. Holding each other like a promise.

They fly back to their houses and being separated in their own apartments is more painful than it’s ever been. That night they begin narrowing down what apartment to get. 

Life has never felt so good, and they can't wait to see how much happier they will be when they finally have a place to call home. 

Chapter Text

They don't have much when they begin packing. Probably two suitcases each worth of stuff so they get a furnished apartment instead of buying everything for it which would cost more money than its worth. When the date comes and the two head up to the complex to get their keys, it’s surreal. Keys in hand, they head to their section of the complex and park, grabbing their things and taking them up the concrete stairs and down the hallway to their door, their home.

Once inside, they each take a deep breath and set their things down. They’ll organize later. Right now? They just want to flop onto their bed and rest. Truly rest for the first time in their lives. 

They giggle, then laugh and begin to kiss and grope one another in the safety and privacy of their bedroom. The door doesn't need to be closed and locked, nor does there need to be a sock on the handle. Muffling their moans is now only optional as they begin to strip. 

Deciding to make this a celebration, Catra digs through their bags for the toys they have while Adora gets the bluetooth speaker. She hooks up her phone as Catra lays out their toys. The room is filled with music and the smell of sex and tears as the two fuck like lighitning bolts. Sporadic and hungry from pent up energy that has swelled and accumulated for over a year since they met. 

It’s like the sex never ends. Adora’s skin is a canvas that Catra paints hickies and bites into as Adora worships Catra’s body like a sacred book that only she can read. 

At some point, the moon rises, but they aren’t done. No, Catra has more in mind and Adora is more than willing to see it through.

Catra pulls out their favorite collar and clips it around Adora’s neck. “Over my knee, slave,” she commands with lust. Adora sways her hips as approaches and hums when she lays over Catra's knees.

“Yes, master. Whatever you want, you may do to me,” Adora says, her voice thick with need. They’ve had this fantasy before, but have never actually done it to its greatest potential because of their lack of privacy and tools. But they bought something special for this day.

“That’s right. I know a good girl when I see one, but first I need to break you in. Learn my rules and ways of how I will fuck you,” she says. Adora’s heart rate quickens.

“Yes, master.”

Catra rubs her ass cheeks, then brings her hands back and spanks her, hard enough to leave a red outline of her hand. Adora yelps and moans, her legs shake and she has to bite her lip. “No, I want to hear you. You’re mine and you will listen to me.” Adora nods and takes another spank, moaning freely this time which earns her another hit to her ass.

Fuck, she’s soaking wet again already even after cumming as many times as she has today. Catra is drenched just as much, but they are far from finished.

Adora is spanked until there are tears in her eyes and she has to call out ‘yellow’. “Good girl,” Catra praises. “I’m so proud of you,” she says and she rubs her rear and back to soothe her. “Are you ready for the next part, princess?”

She takes a deep breath. “Yes, master. Green.” Adora immediately hears Catra pop open the bottle of lube and apply it to her fingers.

“You are going to be so full of me tonight, my pretty, perfect girl. All mine to use.”

“Yes, master, please.” Adora gasps when the cold substance on Catra’s fingers prod at her hole. She’s never had anything up her ass except for a single finger to see how she would like it. At the time she was too scared, but now? She’s excited and needing it.

Catra bends down to kiss her back and stroke her hair as she slides her finger in and out of her. “That’s it, nice and easy. You’re doing so well.” Soon she adds another finger, stretching Adora once she’s more loosened up, slowly lubricating her hole as she preps her lover for their new toy. 

The bottle is opened again and Adora hears it being squirted on their new butt plug. It’s a bit bigger than what you would normally start with, but Adora doesn’t mind. She knows she can take it for her sir. Her entrance is prodded again with something much larger and Adora knows it's the toy, and fuck. She can't help but cry out, needing to focus on her breathing. Catra rubs her back to relax her and coos in her ear.

“My good girl, you can’t wait to be so stuffed with me. You are doing so well, so obedient and sexy for your master.” Adora can only nod as the toy is pressed further in and pulled out, then pushed back in.

It takes some time but soon, the plug is firmly inside her ass and Adora is gasping at the feeling, subspace coming to her with strength. She lets it take her, like a hand guiding her through the most elegant of woods. A hand comes down on her ass again and she shakes from the impact, jostling the toy in her ass hole. It leaves her whimpering.

Catra smirks and pulls on Adora’s hair so her head is a bit more up, strained but not painful on her neck since she is still wearing the collar. “I’m going to go wash my hands and you are going to lay down on the bed, ass up for me. Got it, slave?”

“Y-yes, master,” Adora breathes out and Catra helps her get on to the bed and in position. Catra thoroughly washes her hands and straps up with their favorite dildo.

“I’m going to break this fucking mattress,” she states with so much power Adora moans with a big smile. Catra grabs the leather binding already tied to the bed railings and ties Adora’s wrists to them, giving her something to hold for comfort and security.

Adora feels the bed dip behind her and wiggles her ass a bit, whining as the toy moves inside her. Fuck, can she really handle this? She sure hopes so, because Adora loves to test her limits and never backs down from a challenge. But with sex and bdsm, you have to be more careful.

“Yellow,” she says and Catra pauses, rubbing her swollen ass cheeks. “Just go slow.”

Catra shuffles around to Adora’s head and leans down to kiss her on the lips, deeply and sweetly. “I won’t hurt you. I got you.”

“You could never hurt me. I’m…just nervous,” Adora explains.

Nodding, Catra kisses her again and runs her claws through her hair. “How about you talk me through it. We go at your pace. Then you tell me when you’re ready to let me hold the reins again.”

“Yeah, let’s do that,” Adora agrees, already feeling more relaxed now. “Alright, lube yourself up and just like… tease me with your strap, to start.”

“Okay, princess.” Catra listens and does as Adora wants. She lubes up her cock and slides between her folds and clit slowly.

Adora spreads her legs wider. “The tip.” Catra prods her entrance and the tip goes in easily. “In and out,” she says, breathy and getting more turned on. The tip slides in and out gently. “A couple inches, slowly, please, sir.”

She takes the first couple inches, then she’s taking half of Catra’s girth. They are both thinking the same thing. Fuck, it’s tight . But in the best possible way. Adora gives the go for Catra to press inside further.

“Touch my clit as you put the rest in, sir,” Adora says, gasping as the two toys rub against each other inside her. Catra does as she asks and swirls her stiffened clit as she gently rocks into her, making Adora cry out and heave for air.

“You okay?”

Adora nods and groans. “More than okay, don’t fucking stop, please.” Catra loves the sound of that and keeps thrusting at her slow pace until she is hilted inside a squirming Adora. They stay like that for a moment as Adora shakes and whines, adjusting to the toys inside her. She grips the bed frame harder.

“Green. Take me, master!” Adora begs and rocks her hips forward and back. “fuck –fuck!”

Catra slips back into her dominant head space and rests her hands on Adora’s hips. “All fucking mine to use. My slave girl. ” She pulls out and rams back inside Adora’s dripping pussy and the sound Adora makes is nothing short of divine ecstasy. “Perfect in every way and mine to claim and use. Fuck,” Catra curses and she picks up a steady, unrelenting pace that has Adora biting at the sheets, groaning louder than the music. Catra is so god damn drunk on this.

The toys rub against each other perfectly inside Adora and she’s never felt so high in her life than she does in this moment. She can’t think, only give and release herself to her master. Her orgasm approaches quickly.

“I’m–gonna–” she stutters out between thrust and Catrs fucks her harder as she reaches around between Adora’s legs to rub her clit to bring her over in what she hopes is Adora’s greatest orgasm yet.

And it is. Adora screams, tears in her eyes as her whole body rattles with her orgasm, twitching uncontrollably as Catra fucks her through it. She’s even twitching as she comes down. She can hardly register the toys coming out of her pussy and ass hole. Or the bindings being untied from her wrists. It’s when her collar is removed and she sinks into the bed does she finally open her eyes that she sees Catra getting into bed next to her, pulling her limp body close. A massive purr erupts and washes over Adora as Catra kisses her cheeks and wipes her tears away.

“Hey, Adora.”

“Mmmm.”

“How we doing?”

Adora finds the strength to wrap her arms around Catra and feel their naked breasts press together. “I’m perfect, babe. That was something else. You were incredible.”

Catra kisses her, soft and gentle as she rubs her back. “Im glad you had fun, princess.”

“Me too,” Adora says, smiling. “Bath time?” Catra nods and they make their way to their shower, where they can take their time and enjoy each other as much as they want.

()()()

All of their friends are over for a little party to celebrate the couple's new home. It’s warm and comforting, having a place to treat the people that have always treated them. They can finally repay all of their friends for everything they have ever done for them. Supplying them with meals, car rides, money, a place to sleep, a place to call temporarily home.

Through the night they laugh and cheer and make the little apartment cozy and less new smelling as they replace the scent of new furniture with delicious meals and drinks to get tipsy with. Catra and Adora can't recall a time when the both of them have ever smiled so big and laughed so hard, yet felt so sentimental at the same time. It’s an enormous feeling. It doesn’t feel heavy like the elephant that used to weigh down on their chests, trapping them in depression and anxiety, bound to their beds. No, they feel light and free, like the world is made of flower petals and hummingbird wings. 

The best part of the night is the welcome home gifts they receive from everyone. It brings them to tears they don’t bother to hide anymore. Door mats, a door wreath, kitchen utensils, decorative pillows, soaps, downy blankets, and so much more. 

All the while, Lonnie has a shit eating grin on her face that she shares with Huntara across the room as they finally get to her gift.

“Alright, guess it’s time to see whatever shit you pulled tonight,” Catra remarks, eyeing the two women with intense curiosity.

“You know what they say,” Adora says, “curiosity killed the cat!” Everyone laughs, but not Lonnie, she simply smirks.

Huntara stands and wraps an arm around Lonnie’s shoulders. The two have been friends for years and Catra now fears what is in the 3 small boxes on the kitchen counter. “It’s time for the grand finale!” Huntara announces, loud and joyful. Lonnie brings the stack of gifts over to where Catra and Adora sit on the couch. Each person in the room is buzzing with excitement.

Carefully, Catra unwraps one of the boxes. “Lonnie, I may or may not attack you.”

“You will love me after this,” Lonnie replies with a wicked grin.

“Sure will,” Huntara says with a heart chuckle.

Catra opens the box and immediately snaps it shut. “Really? In front of everyone here?” she balks.

“Pffft, as if everyone here doesn’t know what you two get up to!” Lonnie remarks and Huntara agrees.

“Just open them up!” Huntara begs.

Catra looks around the room and sees everyone waiting patiently with a kind smile. She sighs heavily and hands the next box to Adora. “You open this one, I will do this one.”

“Okay,” Adora says slowly and unwraps the other box. She opens it and immediately blushes. “Oh, oh wow. Uh…” then she pulls out what is undoubtedly shibari rope. “Thank you?”

“You are welcome,” Huntara says proudly. “That’s from me. The one Catra first opened is from Lonnie and the last box is from Rogelio and Kyle.”

Catra opens the box from Lonnie to reveal a bed cuff set. The cuffs are velvet and soft and designed to strap under a mattress so your lover is spread eagle on the bed. Catra and Adora both swallow– hard. “You guys are really something.” Everyone in the room is laughing and whooping lewdly.

Adora reaches for the last box and opens it up and she coughs on some spit. “How manys gags are in here?” she asks with shock. She begins pulling them out one by one. Some are bar gags, others strap around your whole face, and another is an O ring. The one she eyes the most is the one that is basically designed to pry your mouth open for oral sex and deep throating. Her underwear floods.

Next to her, Catra’s tail twitches as a flush covers her cheeks. “This is so embarrassing,” she mutters. Huntara and Lonnie and the boys are laughing loudly while Kyle gives them a thumbs up.

“You guys deserve to have some fun!”

Catra puts her face in her hands. “Kyle, shut up.”

“Awwww,” Scorpia says. “That was really sweet of you guys. Perfuma and I thought about getting you guys a sex swing. We love ours.”

Adora laughs awkwardly and puts everything back in its respective box so she can hide it. “Well, this was very sweet of you guys.”

Huntara comes up to them both and pulls them in for a big hug. “You guys have come such a long way.” Adora and Catra groan.

“Yeah, yeah, thanks,” Catra mutters and fights out of the hug, making everyone laugh.

“Group hug!” Scorpia bellows and then everyone dog piles in for a massive hug that nearly crushes Adora and Catra.

Catra looks at Adora amongst the chaos and sees her smiling shyly. “It’s not that bad, babe.” 

She sighs. “Yeah, it’s not.” Catra hugs her friends back and thanks them. “Thank you guys, really.”

“Of course!” Glimmer says with a wicked smirk as they all pull from the hug. “Bow and I have really enjoyed the face fucking with that one head gear piece.” Next to her, Bow sputters uncomfortably.

“Glim!”

“What? Just giving my yelp review.”

()()()

It’s obvious to say that the lovers enjoy their toys. For the next two weeks they experiment with everything and find what they enjoy most. Adora thoroughly enjoys the shibari rope comboed with the O ring. Having spit all over her face is kind of hot with her mouth exposed for Catra to fuck makes her cum pretty hard. Being restrained is easily one of Adora’s favorite things so the rope gets used often and they learn the bindings together and practice them thoroughly before a session in the bedroom.

Catra has found great use for the bed cuff set because she gets to fuck Adora how ever she wants and Adora craves it. They use it so often that they just leave the cuffs attached to the mattress now. Adora is once again in her new found happy place, strapped to the bed and moaning until her throat is sore as Catra works her fingers inside her.

“I love when you take me,” Adora whines. “Make me yours. I know I’m safe with you, baby. Oh–oh–oh right there–,” she stutters out between moans and feels her walls clench around Catra’s rapid fingers, refusing to let her go.

Catra rapidly licks her clit as she works Adora through her orgasm, pushing her higher up her peak. Adora can feel her orgasms approaching and that’s when Catra pulls her fingers out. Her eyes snap open and she looks down at a smirking Catra with wide eyes. Before Adora can even beg, Catra crawls up to her, kissing her toned stomach and nipping at her ribs to make her squirm. Adora fights the restraints but it’s no use, and she loves it. Then Catra takes her nipple in her mouth, her hand flicking her other hardened one.

Adora whimpers and her legs shake but she won’t tell Catra what to do, she’s enjoying the denial too much. The pressure builds in her clit and she feels her pussy gush at the denial as Catra plays with her marked body.

Catra releases her nipple then kisses it, and goes to the other one to give it the same treatment. Adora is panting heavily, whining as Catra does as she pleases.

Then, Catra leans over her and kisses her. “I’m going to ride your face. You’re going to make me cum as much as I want, and only then can you cum,” Catra explains and Adora nods rapidly.

“Yes, sir.” Adora loves when she rides her face and hums happily as Catra straddles her face and Adora gets a perfect view of her lover’s pussy for a moment. Catra lowers herself and Adora doesn’t waste a moment before she starts licking her up.

Catra sighs, happy and content in her position of power on top of Adora as her lover licks her up greedily. Adora has gotten so great with her tongue that Catra is seeing stars within moments. She grips the bed frame and fucks Adora’s face harder and harder, faster and faster until she cums with shaking legs. She sits up for Adora to breathe.

“Gods, I love you,” Adora murmurs as Catra lowers herself again and Catra giggles happily, her eyes closed as she feels Adora’s mouth get back to work.

“I have trained you so well, pet,” Catra says and Adora moans. “You are so good at that, making me feel good,” she praises and Adora whines into her pussy. “Adora, you were made for me and me only.” Adora practically sobs and Catra cums so hard, gushing into Adora’s waiting mouth and she drinks every drop like the good girl she is.

She flops down next to Adora, catching her breath then rolls on top of Adora and kisses her filthy mouth, tasting herself on Adora’s tongue.

“Now, you can cum,” Catra says and slithers back between her legs. Adora is even more soaking wet and Catra presses three fingers inside, making Adora’s back arch and her eyes roll back with a loud whine. With expertise and deep understanding of her lover’s pussy, Catra swirls her swollen clit, then sucks and Adora can’t take it. She’s damn near screaming and Catra loves every sound she makes.

When Adora cums, it could start an avalanche. Catra fucks her through it then quickly uncuffs her and removes her collar. She helps Adora’ stretch her arms and legs and relax into the bed and pulls her close. Once thoroughly smothered in kisses, the two look into each other's eyes as their bodies pressed together, eliminating any space between them.

“You don’t understand how much I love you,” Catra says as she rubs circles in Adora’s hip.

Adora hums happily. “Is there a stronger word than love? Because I need one for you.” Catra kisses her again and again until they have to pull back for air. “Catra? You were made for me too. I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” Catra replies. “More than I can say. And that’s why I fuck you so well,” she chuckles and Adora snorts.

()()()

Today is the day, the couple is at a car dealership and signing the last of the paperwork to get Catra’s new car. It’s a typical four door with some sports mechanics. It’s a few years old and Catra really had to save up for a down payment, which Adora aided in, but it’s a car and Catra couldn’t be happier with what she has. Well, she could have a ferrari, but she digresses. She puts her signature on the last line and the man congratulates her on her new car.

The couple walks out to the side of the building where the employee pulls the car up and parks it. They hop out of the car and pass Catra the keys with a big smile.

“Here you go, enjoy the ride!”

Catra smirks at Adora. “Let’s take her for a spin.” Adora sprints to the passenger seat and buckles up. Catra slides into the driver seat and adjusts her seat then hooks her phone up to the bluetooth and puts on some heavy, hype music that gets the couple’s blood pumping. She shifts the gears and zooms out of the lot with a laughing Adora.

For a long time they just drive and enjoy the new ride and the two can’t stop smiling and loving the car. It’s surreal getting to drive a vehicle that doesn’t rattle and threaten to fall apart when it accelerates. The AC works and the speakers have great sound and the seats aren’t taped together. It’s everything she needs to really feel complete. She has Adora, a home with her, a good job that pays well, and now she has a functional car that they can use. 

“You are so fucking sexy,” Adora tells Catra as she weaves between traffic. Catra smirks, a fang poking out. The windows are down and the wind is blowing through Adora’s golden hair.

“So are you, it’s hard to watch the road with you looking so gorgeous next to me.” Adora blushes but smiles cutely at the compliment. “I think it’s time we really break this car in.”

Adora sports a lewd grin. “Please, sir.”

Catra gets off the highway and heads for the camping grounds. She finds the parking lot and picks a distant spot for some privacy. Adora is already stripping out of her shirt and shorts when she flops in the back seat and lays down. Fumbling with her clothes in the confined space of the car, Catra throws her shirt and bra off and crawls over the console and pulls Adora in for a bruising kiss that is all tongue and teeth.

The sex is messy and awkward in the back seat but neither of them care when they can have each other, Adora is giggling into every kiss and crying out from every thrust of Catra’s skilled fingers. Catra is growling, purring as she sucks on Adora’s perfect tits. Her fingers are warm inside her lover and she pulls them out to rub quick circles around Adora’s precious clit. Adora has one leg up on the seats while the other is hanging off to the floor as Catra takes her. Her pace quickens as she supplies pressure to her nub and soon Adora is gushing all over the leather of the seats.

Catra kisses her through her orgasm as Adora wraps her arms around Catra’s neck and kisses her back. They part from the kiss so Adora can suck Catra’s fingers clean, moaning as she swirls her tongue around them in her mouth. Catra hums at the feeling, loving the warmth and the obedience of her lover.

Adora slides her other hand down Catra’s torso, feeling her fur and making the girl above her shiver, then guides her hand lower. Catra still has her pants on so she undoes her button and fly, then slips her hand into her underwear and searches for her sex. Fuck, Catra is soaked and Adora’s fingers glide easily through her needy heat, making Catra whine and groan as she humps her hips into Adora’s hand. Adora pulls Catra’s mouth to her neck.

“Bite me,” she begs out of breath. “Mark me, sir, please.”

Catra laughs darkly and obliges. “Only because you asked so sweetly, baby.” She licks up her neck and then sinks her teeth in and it makes Adora’s hand stutter in Catra’s pants but she finds her rhythm again. 

She’s knuckle deep in Catra as her palm grinds against her swollen clit and Catra growls into her neck as she cums all over her hand, soaking it with cum. Adora pulls her hand free and brings it to her mouth to lick and taste. Catra releases her bite and kisses the bruised mark, making Adora twitch pleasurably.

“Thank you, sir.”

Catra kisses her, tasting herself on Adora’s lips. “Mine, forever.”

“Yours,” Adora says, happy and smiling. Then she grips the base of Catra’s tail. “And you are mine, forever too.”

A low growl comes from Catra’s chest. “Always, yours,” she replies through her haze and her hand is back on Adora’s pussy. “I want this car to only smell of us and not that stupid new car smell.”

“Round two?” Adora asks, melting into the seat, paying no mind to the seat belt digging into her side.

“Fuck yes.”

()()()

With Catra’s new car, the couple goes on a road trip to the canyons. They hike and work up a sweat and get some magnificent pictures of the landscape. The endorphins of hiking and climbing rocks in the heat is like nothing else and they truly enjoy themselves. 

After a couple days of testing their limits with mother nature, they pack up and get in the car. They sing to tunes and feel free and relaxed after such a great little trip. Having a functional car helps them both greatly relax knowing it won’t break down or give them trouble. And the gas mileage is fantastic. 

They pull into their apartment complex just as the sun is setting and they bring their suitcases up the stairs and into the apartment. It’s great being back and feeling more prepared for life. 

Adora is toying with the idea of trying to go to community college as she works through some self discovery of what she wants to do with her life. Catra wants to help her as much as she can and Adora letting her. Not because of their dynamic, but because it’s the healthy and loving way to go about this. They discussed it in the car ride back and Adora feels less anxious about her future knowing Catra will be there for her. And Catra feels more agency at being able to look after her through it all. 

It feels good to flop on the couch and watch tv while their frozen dinners cook in the oven. Adora pulls Catra close in her arms as she leans back on the couch and Catra wraps her arms and tail around her strong body. 

It feels good to be prepared, and knowing they have each other and their caring friends. They are safe and taken care of now for once in their lives. 

It feels good to be home, for real.