Chapter Text
BANG
Adora and the girl who was trying to shoot her shot both jumped at the loud sound of Catra slamming her locker. The poor junior tried to recover from her stun to ask out the blonde jock, but her overprotective best friend had other plans.
“If you’re done being pathetic, we have class to get to,” Catra said, crossing her arms over her chest as she cocked her hip. Challenging the girl to continue her useless endeavour.
“O-oh sorry,” the girl said and Adora offered the girl a sympathetic smile before she disappeared to her own class. Adora raised her eyebrow at Catra who watched the girl disappear down the hall.
“Was that really necessary?” Adora asked, turning back to her locker to push her hair into a ponytail and grab her books.
“Whatever, it’s not like you were interested,” Catra said rolling her eyes and opening her locker to grab her own books.
“I dunno, I’ve never met her. What if she was the girl of my dreams?” Adora said closing her locker and turned to Catra as she snorted.
“Doubt it, who finds their dream partner in high school?” Catra said closing her locker again like a normal person and holding her books under one arm. Adora shrugged as Adam appeared beside her and grabbed her in a headlock.
“Hey!” Adora yelled, trying to get away before he ruined her ponytail again.
“Catra! How are you this fine morning?” Adam asked with a grunt as Adora elbowed him in the ribs and he struggled to keep his hold of her.
“Hey Dumbass,” Catra said rolling her eyes and walking around the blonde tornado in the hall. Adora slipped out and shoved her twin before she laughed, and he dived to tackle her. They were giant children.
“If you idiots make me late to Lit, I will skin you both alive,” Catra growled, and she heard Adam grunt as he got knocked into a locker. Catra glanced over at them and Adora grinned as she released her brother and straightened her hair as she held her books between her toned thighs. Oh, to be a book right now.
Catra swept into the classroom with the two blondes in tow and made eye contact with bane of her existence. Ms. Weaver.
Catra took her assigned seat, the twins had calmed down and now sat quietly to either side of Catra and pulled out their books. Being the teacher’s daughter meant Catra couldn’t slip. Not an inch. Especially when it came to Adora. Weaver already had her suspicions, even if Adora was too oblivious to notice. Catra couldn’t even look at Adora in this class without being forced to talk about it at home. So, she sat, straight backed, answered any questions she was asked and kept her eyes to herself.
Just one more year, then she’d be free.
[…]
Lunch was a non-event, the whole friend group made up most of the cheer squad and parts of the football team, spread over two tables as they make a racket. Excited for the football season to start. Their first game was coming up this Friday night and the cheer squad was deep in planning how to boost excitement for the game.
After school was cheer practice, they shared the oval with the football team as they ran drills to prepare for the game. Catra’s focus was tested by her two best friends, but one more than the other.
She powered through her water bottle with a very dry mouth as she glanced over at Adora sweating up a storm. Catra forced herself to refocus and instructed her waiting team into the next routine.
They must have run their routine 10 times before Catra was satisfied, she was a stickler for perfect form when it came to their routine. Bow came over to visit Glimmer once the drills were done. Perfuma was swept up by her sweaty beefy girlfriend once they finished their final run and Catra had to look away. It wasn’t that she didn’t think it was a sweet show of affection, and a bit gross in a lovey way. The problem was it made her want that and she couldn’t have it, not under Weaver’s roof. Not yet.
Adam was the first to reappear after the showers. The cheer squad had dispersed and Catra had changed into jeans and put on her leather jacket while she waited for her ride. She was sitting in the bleachers as the lights flicked on the oval.
Adam walked up the steps to sit beside Catra and she glanced over at him before looking back at the oval.
“Adora might be a while. She was still talking to Mermista when I got out of the shower,” he said with a grin and leaned back on the bench. Catra sighed and rolled her eyes. “She was telling some story about a junior you bit the head off?” Adam said nonchalantly.
“I didn’t bite her head off, I just called her pathetic,” Catra said crossing her arms and pulling her jacket tighter around her to brace against the cold. Adam moved and put his arm around her to keep her warm.
Catra leaned into the familiar embrace she had known her whole life. The three of them always cuddled, even if puberty really changed those experiences between Adora and Catra, for Catra at least. Adam was like a cuddly teddy bear, nothing but brother energy and good hugs. Adora lit a fire in her chest when she was close her. Her heart raced, her face flushed, she was a mess. So, she limited those interactions, for her poor heart’s sake. She tried not to hug Adam more often than Adora, because Adora hated to be excluded, especially when it came to Catra. But sometimes she just wanted to be held and she was touch starved from living with Weaver. Scorpia gave pretty good hugs when she couldn’t turn to the twins, she was just a little overzealous.
“Thanks,” Catra said softly as she rested her head on his shoulder. He just hummed, enjoying the hug as much as she was. It wasn’t long before Adora appeared at the door to the locker room and spotted them. She had her jacket in her hand as she approached. She glanced between the two of them and Catra prepared for a comment about missing out.
“Cold?” Adora asked, her concern outwaying her jealousy for the moment and Catra nodded.
“Its freezing,” Catra said sitting up straight, and Adam let her go as she stood. “Let’s get out of here before I keel over,” Catra said with a laugh and Adora nodded. Adora offered Catra her letterman jacket and grinned.
“Want my jacket?” Adora offered and Catra took it.
“Absolutely, you don’t need it, you’re like a furnace” Catra said slipping it on and walking between her towering best friends to their car. She loved the feeling of the oversized jacket against her skin, trying to hold back from burring her face in the familiar scent. It was bliss.
Catra always studied at the Grayskull’s after school, it was best to avoid her mother after school when she liked to drink. She never had dinner at home, Weaver never made anything to eat anyway.
Rocking up to the house Catra followed the twins inside and got a warm greeting by their parents, Linda, and Dean. Better known as Mom and Dad, her own mother never tried to earn that title like the Grayskull’s did. Dinner was in the oven and the house was warm and inviting, it felt like home.
The three threw down their bags in the living room and set out their homework while they waited for dinner. They sat around the coffee table on the floor as they were working in silence, occasionally poking each other or being a nuisance.
Adora particularly liked to poke at Catra or draw on her paper when she was not looking. Catra would retaliate until no homework was done at all.
Mom called them to dinner, and they sat around the table. The permanent fifth place at the table was set and Catra claimed her spot between her best friends. Catra was often the buffer between the two blonde golden retrievers with too much energy as they tried to annoy each other into play fighting. It was her favorited place in the entire world.
They talked about their days and Linda politely asked how Weaver has been. Catra brushed over her being fine and nothing to report but the Grayskull knew better than that by now. They were a safe harbour for the storm that was her relationship with her mother.
After dinner, the three students returned to homework as Linda and Dean tied up and readied for the next day of work and school. Catra was always sad when the end of the night came, and she had to return to her mother. Her curfew on a school night was 9pm so she left it to the last moment to walk home.
“Do you need a jacket for the walk home?” Adora asked, such a wonderfully considerate dummy.
“Nah dummy, I’ll warm up with the walk,” Catra said with a smile, she didn’t want to mention that Weaver would kill her if she showed up with one of Adora’s jackets on again. She didn’t need more proof for the bonfire of evidence proving her daughter was a sinner.
Adora pulled Catra into a hug, it was one of the last acceptable hug times they had left, besides comfort hugs. Catra savoured it as she squeezed the blonde back before she released her. It was so unfair how good she smelt. Catra tried to keep her blush at bay. Its just a hug you mess.
Adam was next and wrapped her up in a warm hug. Adam took his time, knowing he was able to and abusing the privilege. Once Catra forced her way out of his grip she laughed at his grin and glanced at Adora. She almost looked like she was pouting but smiled back at Catra.
“Later idiots,” she said leaving the house into the biting cold. She wrapped her jacket tightly around herself.
The walk home only took about 10 minutes. It was 10 minutes of dread. She hoped Weaver had already passed out from the wine. It would make her night easier.
The lights in the house were off when she approached, it seemed promising. Catra let herself into the silent house and let out a gentle sigh. The inside of the house was barely warmer than outside, but it held no spirit of home. It made it feel icy and cold.
She took off her shoes and headed quietly upstairs to her room. She turned on the light as she opened the door and almost had a heart attack. Weaver was sitting on her bed holding a glass of wine. She looked up when the lights turned on.
Catra put her hand to her chest to try to stop the panic that rose at the sight of her. She took a steading breath, trying to assess the situation. Was she angry? Sad? Disappointed? Catra swallowed, looking at the thing on the lap of her dark skirt and her eyes widened.
“Catra…” Weaver started without looking up at her. This was not her first glass of wine, clearly. Catra hoped to God, who she knew wasn’t listening, that was her new, empty sketchbook, not her old one.
“Were you at the Grayskull’s?” Weaver asked, even though she knew that was where Catra had been.
“Yes Ma’am,” Catra forced out, trying to remedy whatever outburst this was going to be.
“Did they feed you?” Weaver asked.
“Yes Ma’am,” Catra said softly but clearly. Weaver would chew her out for not speaking clearly, otherwise.
“So, they should, they have the money to spare,” Weaver spat, spitefully. Catra swallowed, her eyes on the sketchbook in Weavers lap.
Weaver opened the book finally and Catra could see all the sketches as she flicked through. Catra tried to stop herself from blushing, she knew most of that sketchbook was filled with drawings of Adora. It wasn’t even hard to see that it was Adora, it was clearly her. Catra’s feelings for Adora were always a huge inspiration and when she just sketched with no intention, they often reflected those blue eyes she loved.
“Would you like to explain this?” Weaver asked in a tone that said it was not optional.
[…]
Catra was freezing cold, it was early morning, and she was trying to climb the tree in the backyard of the Grayskull’s. She could go through the front door, she had a key but she didn’t want to alert Adora. She needed to speak to Adam, alone. She finally got into the roof outside the twins windows and tapped as loudly as she dared on Adam’s window. Thankfully they hadn’t shared a room since they were 13. Adora was a deep sleeper, but she didn’t want to risk waking her in case she was up this early for a run or something ridiculous.
Adam’s sleepy face came to the window and opened it without a word. It wasn’t unusual for Catra to show up in the night after a fight with Weaver and they would let her inside. She would swap between the twins depending on who would wake up. Often getting let in Adam’s window and ending up in Adora’s room anyway.
Adora was soothing like nothing else in her life. She made her heart go faster and slower all at once. It was hard to sleep but it felt right to lay beside her. Adam was great for cuddles or a sympathetic ear. Surprisingly Adam was much better with emotions than Adora, Adora was always better at punching her problems or taking action to fix it. They were a strong team.
Catra slipped inside and pulled the window closed before she started rubbing her arms quickly to warm up. Adam had returned to sit on the bed as he rubbed the sleep out of his face. Catra put down her backpack with a loud thud. Adam looked at the heavy bag for a moment before he looked back at Catra curiously.
“What’s all that?”
“She found my sketchbook” Catra whispered.
“Oh” Adam rubbed his face again, his mop of blond hair spiking up in all directions.
“She flipped out when she saw all my drawings of Adora and she accused me of being gay,” Catra said, keeping her voice low but the panic in her tone was unmistakable.
“You are gay, Cat, for my sister,” Adam was dopier than usual after waking up and he seemed to think this was funny somehow. It absolutely was not.
“Shhh! No one can know that. She threatened to kick me out. I told her the drawings were for art class, but she didn’t believe me, so I panicked.” Catra looked nervous suddenly.
“What did you do?” Adam asked curiously, hooked on the drama of the tale.
“I told her I have a boyfriend…she asked me who, but I couldn’t think of anyone, so I said…uh…you?” Adam looked surprised and frowned drowsily.
“Why me?”
“I don’t know! I panicked. I don’t want some random guy trying to get handsy with me! You are one of my best friends. I trust you, ok?”
“You’re one of my best friends too Cat, but you know I think of you like a sister, I’m not gonna date you,” Adam was barely staying awake at this point. His blue eyes glazing with sleep as he rocked slightly to stay upright.
“Please Adam!” Catra never in her life expected to beg a man to date her, but here she was. Pathetic Weavers voice reminded her.
“We can just pretend to date, it doesn’t have to be the real thing, just enough to get mum off my back. It would only be at school, I promise,”
“Ugh, I hate this, I don’t want to act like that with you,”
“Believe me, I don’t want to either, but I’m desperate. It wouldn’t be much, maybe a kiss on the cheek here and there, and cuddles, you like cuddles,” Adam held his chin in consideration.
“I do like cuddles…you know if she tried to kick you out, you could always live here with us?” Adam offered, clearly looking for any alternative,
“I know dumbass, but Weaver could literally ruin my life, if she decides to flunk me in her class I might not graduate. I need her on my side, just until I graduate,” Catra said, her begging was grinding on her pride, but she needed to convince him.
“Graduation is like, so far away though,”
“I know, and I don’t need to date you that whole time, just enough for her to think I like guys,”
“I want you to know I hate this, but if it’s the only way, I’d rather it be me than someone who might try something… I’ll do it, BUT we have to tell Adora,”
“What! No, we can’t, she can’t keep a secret to save her life!”
“We have to tell her Cat, she would be so hurt if she found out we kept this from her,”
“I know, but she won’t be able to play along, besides, we won’t do it at the house, just at school, so she won’t have to see it,”
“We hang out all the time at school, she’s gonna see it,” Catra flopped down on the bed beside Adam and huffed with irritation.
“She’ll be fine, we will just tell her first, and let her know that nothing will change between the three of us. Maybe once I turn 18, I can transfer out of Weavers class. Two months at most, we can do this, then we will just explain to her,”
“What if she has feelings for you?”
“She doesn’t”
“I wouldn’t be so sure Cat, I know my sister better than you do,”
“If she had any ability to keep a secret, I might believe you,”
[…]
Catra unpacked her sketchbooks from her bag and hid them deep in Adam’s gross closet. She repacked her school bag and worked out the details of their arrangement.
They kept it simple. Acceptable contact was mostly stuff they already did. Catra added kissed on the cheek, which they hadn’t done since kindergarten and hand holding. Adam added ‘hand on waist’, because it would be expected of him. So Catra agreed.
They would only pretend at school or school events, NEVER at home. Neither of them wanted to make Adora uncomfortable or feel excluded. It was important to them both that nothing changed between the twins and Catra. They needed each other.
They agreed that if either of them wanted to ‘break up’ they would, no hard feelings. Catra knew Adam was doing so much for her and if it only lasted a little while, she could work with that.
As long as the school believed it, Weaver would buy it. So, they just had to convince their fellow students.
Once that was all settled, Adam went back to sleep for a few hours and Catra slipped into Adora’s room. Adam gave great hugs, but Adora was her very own heater and Catra couldn’t resist it.
Catra took off her jeans and jacket but left her oversized shirt on, probably one she stole from one of the twins, before she climbed into Adora’s bed. The blonde was a deep sleeper and heavy to move, so Catra prodded at her until she woke enough to cuddle up to Catra.
Being tucked under Adora’s chin and protectively cradled against her chest was like heaven to Catra. Adora was so warm, chasing away any chill left in Catra’s body as Adora took a deep breath and buried her face into Catra’s hair.
“Mm, uok?” she murmured, trying to wake enough to talk. She knew the drill, Catra had a fight with Weaver again. It was hours ago, and she was ok now. She waited till Weaver passed out before she slipped away to hide the rest of her evidence in the closet of her gay obsessions brother. Catra took a deep breath, relaxing in the strong arms that surrounded her.
“I am now,” she said softly and Adora hummed in response before casually kissing the top of Catra’s head. Catra’s heart reacted at once, jumping against her chest as her cheeks flushed with heat. She felt like she was burning but didn’t want to move away from the blissful heat surrounding her. She was more than willing to burn for this.