You both hurt us. You both did horrible, shitty things to us and ultimately blamed us for the shitty things you did.
You drove us both to suicide and didn't give a shit, because all that mattered was that you selfishly got to childishly indulge in your lustreless desires, and you refused to grow up and be an adult, refused to communicate to the person who loved you, refused to go to counselling with them and sort your issues out.
Instead you threw them away, disposed of them like trash u der some bullshit of "it's the only way for us to get better". No, liar. Tell them the truth.
Tell her you hadn't wanted to be with her for a long fucking time but didn't have the balls to say it.
Tell her you're not asexual, that you just denied her sex for years while getting sexual satisfaction from other people online.
Its not that you couldn't help her OCD, its that you WOULDN'T. YOU k ew what to do to make it better. You knew you were neglecting her and cheating on her and that what you were doing to her was making it worse.
But you refused to get rid of your mistress for your partner. You wouldn't do the one thing she needed. You bullshitted to her over and over and over again, and you coerced us both into being poly whrn it was never about bring poly, it was about you having as many people chase after you and desire you as possible because you're that fucking insecure.
Tell me I'm not willing to change? Oh I was, you just weren't willing to stop cheating. To stop hurting me. To stop forcing me to be poly when you knew I didn't want to be.
You do realise that right? You both coerced me?
Keep telling yourself you're a victim. You're not. At the end of the day you're a narcissist, manipulating, lying, cheating and unfaithful piece of shit, and people like you don't change.
You can never accept you're wrong. And you don't want to apologise to anyone because you think you're fucking perfect and above that.
There is coldness and darkness in every corner. In every box, and every drawer.
A layer of dust, grainy and grey, ashen like hairs lodged in grandma's brush.
The shadows fall upon your shoulders, a weighted blanket of fears, nightmares, and the unknown that stretches outward.
Do you remember how it felt? When I held onto you so tightly, sobbing and trembling from yet another night terror, as you promised nothing would ever hurt me, that you'd always protect me?
Do you remember all the times you told me you'd never hurt me? No, not like she hurt me. You were good. Loving. Kind.
Where did that go?
In a flash I become nothing more than a source of disdain. A pile of meat beside you that only served to get in your way when not providing you with food and sexual services.
I did everything you asked of me yet even as the blade ran down my arm your cold and dead eyes were concerned only with me distracting you from your precious fucktoy.
Throw her in the hospital. Lock her up. Promise to visit to get rid of her but we never actually will.
Now that your precious money is on the line, suddenly so kind. Maybe we'll be nice to them, maybe we'll manipulate them into not seeking separation payment.
Two can play. Oh how naive.
Go on, enjoy your cult. Enjoy your fake life. Enjoy your dream of cheating and destroying someone's life then leaving them with nothing. It's what you want isn't it?
You dont feel any remorse or sadness for ripping my heart out of my chest with the most evil smirk spreading across your face.
And your demon partner is just as bad if not worse. Soulless, pitiless, cold and unfeeling. An empty and emotionless shell seeking nothing but weak puppets to control and to receive benefits from without putting in any effort.
And now I say it's for the better. That monsters like you remain with each other, so that no more innocents have to suffer and be ripped to shreds emotionally at your hands.
Hi everyone! This is my submission for the 2020 She-Ra Fluff Bang! It’s a little fluffy story of Catra being a good mum, Finn saying their first words, Catra being an emotional good mum, and later on Adora also being an emotional good mum.
Really I just wanted cute fluffy parental Catradora raising their baby together.
Please check out @jujufire ‘s art they did for this fic, it’s too adorable!!
You can also read it on AO3 if you prefer.
~~~~~
Catra let out a loud gasp, her eyes wide with horror as she held a hand to her chest, gripping frantically at her shirt while stumbling forward several steps before collapsing to her knees.
“Argh! No! The mighty mountain troll got me! I've been hit, argghhh!” She continued to claw at her chest dramatically, flailing her arms outwards and flipping her ponytail back. “If only there was someone who could save me, and take down the monster that's been eating all of the villagers!”
A high pitched giggle resonated from her left and she snapped her eyes to look at the little bundle of fur sitting on a plus pillow and watching her with sparkling eyes the shade of the bluest sky.
Inhaling sharply she slapped her hands to her cheeks, her lips trembling as her eyes filled with wonder. “Could it be? The Mighty Finn of legends?? Mythological warrior knight who once fought off the savage Horde all by themselves with only a stick and their loyal steed?!”
Finn giggled again as Catra scooted quickly over to them, scooping the little child up in her arms and lifting them up into the air triumphantly.
“Yes! It is I, the mighty Finn! Fear not Lady Catra for I will save you and slay this foul beast!” Catra did her best to put on a goofy and heroic voice, pretending it was Finn talking before bounding forwards and letting loose a cacophony of fake fighting sounds.
Holding Finn's little arms she acted out an entire scene of punches and wild swings, even a few roundhouse kicks, before finally shouting triumphantly in her best fake Finn voice.
“Ahah! The monster is slain and your village is now safe, Lady Catra!”
Clearing her voice, she placed the exuberantly laughing baby down on the ground before clasping both her hands together and looking ever much like a starstruck Princess.
“Mighty Finn! Thank you so much, you've saved our town and our people, we will be forever in your debt!”
Little Finn was now clapping their tiny little hands against their thighs, their high pitched giggles only making Catra break out into a smile that nobody could have wiped off her face if they'd tried. She couldn't help the musical laugh that escaped her as she scooted over and picked Finn up again, shucking them up so that they were sitting in the little nook just above her hip bone.
Still smiling, she pressed several little pecks all across Finn's forehead, cheeks and nose. This only made the child coo with delight, letting loose a tiny little high pitched purr as they nestled closer to her chest. A matching purr started to resonate from her own chest as she carefully ran her fingers through Finn's slowly growing mane of golden blonde hair. Just like their mother's.
With a warm sigh escaping her lips, she allowed herself a few more moments of mother-child bonding and snuggling before getting up and making for the kitchen, still holding Finn snug against her waist.
“Now what do you say to a snack after such a hard fought battle, mighty Finn?” Catra teased, gently booping the kitten on their nose and receiving a squeal of delight in reply. She grinned, pressing another kiss to Finn’s forehead.
Their place wasn't the biggest of houses, but that was plenty fine by her. Living in the palace had never really been something she'd been interested in, so when Adora had agreed to have a place built just for them outside the palace grounds at Brightmoon she had been over the moon.
It was warm and cosy, with warm toned walls all throughout except for in Finn's nursery- sky-blue walls that Catra loved because they reminded her of the eyes of the two things most precious to her- her wife and their child. The beds were softer than the bunks they had in the Fright Zone but firmer than the ridiculous pillow beds the Brightmoon palace seemed so fond of.
Their kitchen was roomy enough to get around with polished wood benchtops and an island in the middle where her and Adora had spent many nights learning to cook together while drinking far too much wine.
She made her way to the fridge and pulled out one of the snack containers of pureed fruit and vegetables that Finn had become fond of lately, popping it into a machine that Entrapta had called a 'Micro Radio Frequency Particle Excitement Box' that after 30 seconds had warmed the food to just above lukewarm temperature.
“Ohh Finny, lookit what Mama's got for you!” Catra spoke with mild excitement, carrying both the child and the food over to their high chair at the dining table.
Finn squealed with excitement as she put the food down on their little table and carefully lowered them down into their chair.
“Baba! Abbub..” Finn started to babble as they often did around food, and toys, and their mother. Catra grinned to herself. She'd likely never get these two to shut up once Finn was capable of holding a conversation.
She retrieved a spoon from a kitchen drawer and quickly returned, pulling up a chair beside Finn's high chair and carefully beginning to scoop a spoonful of orange coloured puree up. Watching her child's face light up in excitement she was overwhelmed with pure happiness as their mouth opened expectantly.
“Look Finny, here comes the flying horse!” She proceeded to make whooshing and zooming noises, flying the spoon around in criss-crossing directions before bee-lining for Finn's mouth. The kid hummed happily as they chowed down on their snack, bright blue eyes looking up at her with awe and joy. So much so that it almost made her chest ache.
“That good Finn?” She asked, plopping another mouthful in and laughing softly as they clapped their hands together. They definitely got the food excitement from their mother too.
Looking up at the clock on the wall, Catra sighed. It was still only the early afternoon, and Adora likely wouldn’t be home until after it got dark. While Catra had gotten a lot better these days at spending time apart from her wife, there was still always a part of her that deeply yearned and ached whenever they had to be away from each other, even if it was only for a few hours. And of course she had their child to look after, their beautiful little blonde haired, blue eyed kitten that a special place in her heart now beat solely for.
Speaking of said kitten, Finn had finished up their snack and was now babbling happily, bits of puree smudged in a few spots around their mouth. Catra smiled softly and went to retrieve a cloth, dampening it first before returning to clean up Finn’s face. They wriggled a little restlessly, letting out a soft cry as the cloth was swiped over their mouth, chin and cheeks.
“Stop fussing, trust me you don’t want this stuff dried up in your fur,” she furrowed her brows, inspecting their face closely before dabbing a few more times. “I guarantee that will be more of struggle for both of us and I’ll probably end up having to get the razor out.”
Finn let out a soft noise of annoyance as the last of the food was removed, Catra putting the cloth to the side before letting out a long dad-noise grunt while picking up the now slightly heavier Finn and shifting them up to her chest. She began the after-meal ritual of gently clicking her tongue while bouncing the kitten and patting their back, swaying a little from side to side before making her way back to the living area where some of Finn’s toys were strewn about.
On the way there she passed by a photograph of her and Adora only a few months after Finn had been born on a day trip to the Whispering Woods for a picnic. They were seated on a blanket, Catra’s arm wrapped around Adora’s shoulders as they both looked down at their baby who was swaddled and held securely in Adora’s arms.
A smile crept onto Catra’s face, her hand still patting away at Finn’s back. Reaching out she let the rough of her thumb rest against the glass protecting Adora’s radiant face, as though hoping that somehow her wife would feel the gesture of affection through a photograph and from miles away. She knew it was important for Adora to attend to her Princess duties- to her She-Ra duties- but it didn’t make her miss her while she was away any less.
Still, maybe when Finn was older or they could convince Glimmer and Bow to babysit then she could attend a few of these political and beneficial-for-the-people outings.
It was as she was pondering the future and missing her other half that Finn finally let loose a series of small burps, followed by a little coo as though they were happy with their achievement. Catra chuckled.
“Good job little one, almost gave Adora a run for her money.”
Giving the photo one last glance, she continued on to the living room. She set Finn down on their soft cotton playmat, covered with colourful patterns and embossed animals. There was a criss-crossed arch over the top of the playmat that had a few stars and moons dangling from it- one of them even had a pull cord that made it start playing a soft lullaby tune that always seemed to calm down Finn when they were having a tantrum or wouldn’t settle for a nap.
She retrieved a few plush toys from where they lay strewn about and handed a large pink teddy to Finn, setting down the others nearby in case they decided they were in the mood for something else. Catra reached for her video-pad lying nearby on the couch and settled herself in to unwind and find something to watch.
“Alright Finn, Mama’s gonna find us something fun to watch until dinner time. Sound good?”
She peered over at her kitten, smiling when she saw vibrant sky-blue eyes peering back up at her, one little hand raising up and flailing in her direction. Reaching out she took the hand, leaning all the way down and peppering a few kisses to the furry back of it. “Mama’s here baby.”
“Amma… ahh..” Finn started to babble, Catra looking up with a crinkle in her brow, fondness welling in her chest. The little kitten seemed to have a personal dilemma, their little face squinting in concentration. “Ahm… Mama!”
Catra froze. Oh no. Oh no no. Oh, it wasn’t supposed to happen like this. This… Adora was supposed to be here, they should have been together, Finn should have been speaking their first words for them both and now-
Oh, but Finn was looking up at her so, so adoringly. Those big eyes so full of light and joy and everything that was right and good with the world. And it was her child. Just as much as it was Adora’s. Finn was a part of both of them. And now here she was, sitting there staring like a stunned mullet as she realised that this was real, and this was good, and this was happening to her. She had a child with the woman who’d she’d loved since she had been a child herself, the most perfect and amazing woman in the world.
Catra was a mother. A proud mother. A soft mother, and she hoped- a good mother. She tried every single day when she woke up and kissed Adora on the cheek and then kissed Finn on the forehead to be the very best mother. The mother that she and Adora never had.
There was a sharp burning sensation prickling at her eyes and she was vaguely aware of a tickling feeling as tears had started to carve a path down her cheekbones. Finn was still staring at her with absolute adoration, and she took a deep but shaky breath before scooping the child up in her arms and holding them close to her chest.
Finn let out a musical giggle, patting at her arms. “Mama!”
Letting out a soft laugh, Catra snuggled them tighter. She inhaled the smell of their blonde mane, her breath tickling their little ears and making them twitch. There was something so comforting about that ‘new-baby’ smell, even though Finn technically wasn’t that young anymore. She even found herself purring with pure joy, letting a few more tears fall from her eyes and hoping they didn’t get moisture all over Finn’s jumpsuit.
“I love you so much little bub.” Her voice came out just above a whisper, giving Finn one last squeeze before resigning herself to put them down in her lap before they started to get irritable with their Mum cramping their style.
Placing them in her lap, she grabbed the video-pad once more and flicked through a few things before finally deciding on a cute cartoon about horses and penguins for them to watch together. This seemed to please Finn, who let out a small whine of excitement while trying to reach out and ‘pat’ the horsey on the screen.
Catra just chuckled and ensured she was holding it far enough away that they couldn’t reach.
Eventually it started to get dark. Catra made the rounds about the house, tidying up Finn’s toys and making sure the dishes were clean in the kitchen. She warmed up some dinner for herself after feeding Finn and then putting them down in their crib for the night. She’d just finished putting away some laundry in their bedroom when she heard a soft rattle and the creak of the front door cautiously opening.
Her nose twitched and a smile crept onto her face as she caught a whiff of Adora’s scent- light and musky, with tones of vanilla and amber and a little bit of sandalwood. Making her way from the bedroom she opted for the less subtle approach, heading straight for her wife as she was shutting the front door and wrapping her up in a crushing hug.
“Mm! Catra, hey!” Adora greeted her warmly, easily melting into the embrace and wrapping her arms around her slender waist.
Catra buried her face in Adora’s neck, a few stray strands of blonde hair tickling her nose but she didn’t care. “I mimthed myo.”
Adora chuckled, running her hands down Catra’s side and tilting her head just so. “Sorry what was that? Can you repeat it I think I’m losing my hearing.”
Grunting softly Catra pulled away, still smiling as she met her wife’s eyes. “I said-” she punctuated it with a soft kiss. “I missed you.” Another kiss. “You big dummy.”
“I missed you too, babe.” Adora replied, more than happy to return the kiss, wearing her own matching dorky smile.
A few seconds later Catra returned to their original position, burying her head again and holding onto Adora as though her life depended on it. While more than happy to return the embrace, Adora smoothed her hands along Catra’s back in a calming motion for a few moments before speaking.
“Everything okay?”
Catra went still, letting out a long breath before slowly easing herself back from Adora; just a little bit.
“Yeah I’m fine it’s just that-” Catra paused, looking away as colour made its way to her cheeks and she felt a lump starting to form in her throat. “Finn…. said their first word today.”
She bit her lip as she gained the courage to look back, hoping that Adora wouldn’t be sad or disappointed that she wasn’t there, but all she found was glowing blue eyes and a radiant grin that could have threatened to crack Adora’s giant head in half if she wasn’t careful.
“Really??”
Laughing softly Catra took Adora’s hands, grasping onto them like a lifeline and running her thumbs over her knuckles. “Yeah. You’re… not upset you weren’t there?”
Adora’s eyes flitted between her two different coloured ones, eyebrows furrowing in confusion before she let out a dry laugh. “Catra, why would I be upset?”
“I don’t know! I just thought- Ugh, I don’t know I just wished you’d been there and I guess I just felt bad that you didn’t get to hear it with me.”
She’d started to avert her gaze, her cheeks getting warmer as she rambled but she found two strong hands cupping her head and bringing her back to look up at her wife. Adora was smiling at her, her eyes soft and loving as they always were and it made her heart burst with joy. Damnit, those tears were probably going to make a reappearance.
“Catra I love you, and I love Finn. We’re parents together, and I’m going to get to be there for so many of Finn’s other firsts. I’m just glad you got to be there for it even though I couldn’t be.”
A tear slid down her cheek but Adora’s thumb reached up and swiped it away. Sniffling to herself, she rolled her eyes and pulled her big dumb wife in again for another hug. “You’re such a sap.”
Adora laughed, a lilting and musical sound that made Catra’s heart beat a step quicker than it had been. “Oh yeah, pfftt totally.” They hugged for a few moments before Adora interrupted it again. “So, what did Finn say?”
Oh, yeah. That’s right.
Catra looked up, still very much enveloped in Adora’s arms but just far enough away that she could meet her gaze.
“Mama. Finn called me Mama.”
Now Adora looked like she was going to cry, her eyes bright and wobbling with unshed tears as she held her gaze. “Please don’t cry. You’re going to make me cry again!”
“But, you’re Finn’s Mama! And they called you Mama! That’s just… just so…” Adora’s lip did that little thing it did right before she started crying from happiness, that little quiver that every time was equal parts adorable and heart-crushing. Catra felt her tears coming yet again.
Adora sniffed as tears of happiness started to roll down her cheeks. Catra whined softly, unable to stop herself as her own tears came again. She hid her face in the collar of Adora’s grey jacket, unabashedly wiping her face there and letting the fabric absorb them.
“Catra I’m so glad we’re parents together.”
Catra nodded, wiping more tears away. “I know, we’re the best Mums in all of Etheria.”
“More like in the whole Universe.”
They both laughed then, a warm, rich sound that they shared together as they rocked back and forth in each other's arms. “You’re such a dork.”
Adora laughed, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Yeah I know.” She paused, humming softly. “Catra?”
“Hmm?” Catra was purring, her tears finally slowing as she rubbed her face into Adora’s neck. She couldn’t help it, she just smelled so damn good and it was always comforting to hide her face there.
“I’m hungry.”
There was a pause before Catra let out a chuckle, placing a kiss at Adora’s jawline before pulling away. She took her by the hand, tugging her in the direction of the kitchen.
“Come on hot stuff, I’ll heat up dinner for you.”
That night when Finn woke up fussing for a snack, they got up together, huddled close just the three of them as Adora fed them. She was about to finish putting the last spoonful of pureed peas and potatoes in their mouth as little Finn looked up at her, smiling brightly and giggling playfully.
Reaching up the kitten patted Adora on the cheek, cooing softly.
“Mumum!”
If Catra had thought that her ugly, emotional crying earlier had been absolutely terrible and embarrassing then she truly no longer had anything to fear. It seemed Adora’s ugly, emotional crying won out in terms of dramatic points.
That night she may have spent a good two hours just cuddling with both her wife and child until Adora had eventually calmed down enough to put Finn back to bed in their crib. Adora had snuggled up to her and rambled to her until she was high from lack of sleep in the early hours of the morning, talking about all her greatest fears about being a good parent- being a good mother- all of the fears instilled in her from their childhood with Shadow Weaver.
All the same fears Catra had.
But now she saw those same fears reflected in Adora; Adora the wonderful, the strong, the brave, the kind, the most amazing woman and mother that Catra had ever known. Well, she realised that maybe together they really would be the best parents that Finn could have.
As Adora began to snore from where she lay sprawled against Catra's chest, she wondered to herself, fingers gently playing through golden locks of hair.
“I think I wanna have more kids.”
Her wife snored. Catra smiled.
She would tell her when she was awake. Eventually.
if the fic already has a thousand comments, comment still. Your comment will still matter and delight the author.
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the floaty review box (ao3 add-on) is your friend
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Don’t worry, guys. Carl is clearly a brachiosaurus, which lived during the Jurassic period. (And before anyone says our lil’ boy Steve is a velociraptor and therefore puts our comic in the late cretaceous, aka the time of the comet–that lil guy could easily be a compsognathus or a caudipteryx, both Jurassic-era species of small theropod dinosaurs. So the light getting bigger every night is going to pass by harmlessly, and Steve and Carl can go on enjoying the stars together until they die of old age, since Carl has very few natural predators at his size and I bet he’ll protect Steve, if he needs it (though small, fast and carnivorous as Steve is, he probably won’t).
tumblr’s algorithm only cares about posts that are reblogged, it doesn’t count likes. posts don’t get promoted or circulated when they only have likes (the way instagram functions), only reblogs matter for increasing reach on tumblr as a platform.
like y'all are fuckin killing tumblr (& content creation) but okay
you think that’s not a lot of notes? that’s cute.
but yeah, tumblr’s system definitely doesn’t advantage non-popular artists, but there’s a big problem from within the community too. i have over 400 followers and i consider myself lucky when more than 2 people reblog my art, so imagine how much worse it is for people with even less followers.
reblog content creators, guys. liking posts doesn’t do anything.
Sumary- The Fright Zone was a dark place. A terrifying place. Catra is scared of the sounds she hears at night. Adora has a nightmare.
A headcannon about where Catra’s habit of sleeping at Adora’s feet came from.
You can also read it on AO3 :)
-----------------------------
The Fright Zone was no place for children. That's what the villagers always told themselves, it's what they warned their children of when putting them to bed of a night, telling them terrifying stories of the Horde and its soldiers to keep their little ones from running off on adventures.
And it was. At the heart of it. Perhaps even more so than the harrowing stories hushed in whispers. But it was a lived story, one full of monsters and men and endless screams in the middle of the night. It was cuts and bruises and just barely enough rations to sustain a life.
They were just kids. Little ones. Catra didn't know anything outside of these murky grey and green walls and the hum of vents as they pushed recycled air throughout the facility. It was the sound of steel capped boots crashing through the halls while an emergency siren wailed and flashed red just barely visible under the crack of the door that sent her little ears flattening to her head and her thin blanket bundled more tightly around her.
The little kitten shivered as the sound of running soldiers tapered off into the distance, hiding herself away until eventually the sound of the sirens fell silent. She let out a soft breath, a little high pitched sob as she peered around in the darkness.
Pupils dilated fully she could make out the shape of the other children in their bunks seemingly fast asleep. She really needed to try and get back to sleep, but her hackles were raised and she couldn't shake the fear and anxiety that had settled itself under her skin.
Looking to her right she watched her best friend Adora in the bunk beside her, sleeping peacefully with a mop of messy blonde hair almost completely obscuring her features. Her mouth was open as she breathed quietly, the little empty gap where one of her baby teeth had fallen out visible.
Catra snickered quietly to herself. Adora had such a dumb face! Such a dumb... dumb....
Her breath caught in her throat as Adora let out a small whimper in her sleep, her brow furrowing just so while she tucked her legs up closer to herself. A low rumble and the sound of distant explosions somewhere miles away sent shivers down Catra's spine, her highly sensitive ears twitching and pinning back against her head. Adora whimpered again, as if sensing the sounds and the terror of war despite the fact that her human ears could never pick it up from so far away. It was like she felt it.
Catra's face resolved into a frown of concern, her own fears becoming a voice in the background as she watched her friend. Alone. Scared. Helpless.
Shaking her head, she threw the blanket off she had cocooned herself in and slipped off the edge of her bed. She almost squealed as her feet came into contact with the cold, steel floor, but she held it in and crept over to Adora's bed.
Reaching the side of her bunk, Catra wrapped her arms tightly around herself, the thin layer of fuzz over her skin doing little to insulate from their cold surroundings.
“Adora?” She whispered, her voice sounding far away. Unsure.
Still, the blonde girl didn't rouse. Instead Adora whimpered again, this time fighting with her blanket before violently tossing onto her other side. It was as if she was fighting in her sleep, an unseen enemy that threatened her small form and those big blue eyes that were always so full of life.
Momentarily Catra considered turning back to her bed and leaving the girl, shifting her weight onto her right foot as she was about to follow through when a small noise made it through the night air and prickled the hairs on her neck.
“Catra?”
The sound was so small and innocent, cautious yet hopeful. For a moment Catra thought the girl had woken up, but she was still facing away from her, her chest rising and falling in a steady and slow rhythm.
Catra was stuck between the two beds, her heart reaching in two directions. Once towards her bed and blanket that offered her safety, the other to her friend who called to her in her sleep.
Finally she unfurled from herself, turning back towards Adora's bed and lowering herself down onto the hard mattress. She sat there, rocked back on her heels for a few minutes behind Adora's legs as she watched the girl sleeping. There was a small scrape across the blonde's cheek where she had had a fight with Lonnie earlier that afternoon, the two fighting over who got to use the wooden broadsword until Lonnie tugged so hard that poor Adora had fallen face first onto the concrete floor.
Catra's tail twitched at the memory. Her hands reached out, grabbing the offending body part and hugging it close to her body.
She sat like that for a while longer until she felt her eyelids starting to grow heavier and heavier. She almost fell backwards out of the bed, catching herself before she managed to and flicking her eyes quickly back to Adora to make sure she hadn't woke.
She didn't want to leave, but she was getting sleepy again. The distant sounds of violence had faded away some time ago, and just being in proximity to her friend helped to ease her anxiety.
It was a small bed. But Catra was small too.
She managed to curl herself up into a tight ball near Adora's feet, unaware of the girl shifting to make more room for her in her sleep. She was only vaguely aware of a feeling of warmth and safety as she finally fell into a dreamless sleep.
~~
“Catra?”
She wasn't sure of how much time had passed- the soft voice of Adora bringing her out of her slumber- but she was warmer than usual and felt rested, so it could have been the entire night she'd slept for except for the fact that the lack of windows in the room offered no way to tell.
Looking up from where she was curled up behind Adora's legs, she saw her friend looking down at her. Her big blue eyes were still bleary with sleep, but there was a dorky little smile pulling at her lips that made Catra's cheeks warm.
Turning her head away to hide her blush, she sat up and pulled her knees up to her chest in a protective motion.
There was a moment of quiet between them before Catra became aware of movement, followed by the warmth of a hand on her shoulder. Part of her wanted to pull away or shove the girl off, but instead she just sat there. Waiting.
“It's okay.”
Adora's voice was soft and small, but something about it made her want to look; so she did.
She was rewarded with a kind smile and a little kid just like herself seeking some sort of comfort in a place that they had to accept as their home. Catra sniffed, an ear twitching.
“I-” she paused, swallowing and looking away, hugging her legs tighter. “I heard sounds and I got scared.”
A beat passed before Adora's reply came. “I get scared sometimes too.”
Then there was more warmth as her friend wrapped her in a hug from behind, arms around her shoulders and her breath tickling her ear and making it twitch again. They sat like that for a little while, Catra reaching up to grasp onto Adora's arms as though it was the only thing keeping her afloat.
“We don't have to be scared as long as we have each other!” Adora proclaimed, giving Catra one last squeeze and letting her go, allowing her to turn and fully face her.
Catra peered up at her, that big dumb smile somehow making a matching one creep onto her own face.
“Yeah.” She agreed, her cheeks warming again as Adora giggled and reached forwards, ruffling the mess of hair on her head.
The morning bell for breakfast broke their moment, the fluorescent lights overhead crackling and flickering before coming on fully, illuminating the two young friends where they sat together in Adora's bed. Catra looked around as the kids in the other bunks started to slowly wake and get ready for the day. She shot Adora a sideways look, a mischievous grin spreading onto her lips and revealing her fangs.
“Wanna' race to breakfast?”
The moment the challenge went out Adora's face set into a matching grin, hands balling into fists as she pumped them into the air and threw the blanket off. “You're on!”
The two erupted into fits of laughter as they raced to the lockers to get changed, nudging and bumping each other along the way and stopping every so often to play fight.
The Fright Zone was no place for children, but Catra knew she would never be afraid again, as long as her and Adora were together.
Notes- All characters are copyright property of Blizzard Entertainment.
Rating- PG
You can also read this on AO3
~
“How're ya' feeling, luv?” Lena questioned softly, her roaming hands coming to a stop at her forearms, thumbs rubbing in soothing circles across the pale skin.
“I am... feeling fine. There is a little bit of pain, but it seems to be improving.”
A huge smile burst out on Lena's face, her hazel eyes absolutely glowing with happiness and adoration.
“That's so good luv! We're makin' progress just like the doc said.”
It was infectious, the girls' bright mood, and she found a small smile creeping its way onto her face the longer she looked at her. It wasn't until she found an aching sensation in her chest, wriggling behind her rib cage that she felt her cheeks begin to burn and she looked away.
“Yes, I suppose it is going better than I'd hoped,” she replied, the sensation beginning to die down again until a small hand sneaked underneath her chin and gently urged her to look back up again.
There was that damned smile again, this time with something else. Something a little bit more teasing, Lena's pupils dancing with an idea that was sitting just behind her lips.
“Wanna' try somethin' else?” Lena asked, her voice lowering as she began to bite down on her lower lip, and Amélie could see the way her pupils were dilating and her gaze was falling to her own lips.
They had kissed a few times since the incident last week, but they had all been soft and chaste. She would be lying if she'd said she didn't think about taking the British woman and claiming her lips every single night, but last time she did that her body had decided it was a great time for her brain to start reacting to the damage that had been done by Talon.
Every touch had felt like splinters through her body, and she had been on the verge of crying as the painful sensations had coursed through her. It seemed like it was one of the final punishments from the modifications Talon had made to her body, one last 'hurrah' as her brain and central nervous system tried to heal back to a more normal state.
Now, at least today, Lena's touches had felt soft and comforting. There was still some moments of discomfort and pain in a few areas in her lower body, but her arms, upper back and her chest all seemed to be almost fully recovered. Everything felt so much more.... alive. Lena's touches had felt amazing prior to this, but now everything was ten times more sensitive and she struggled to remember if this is what it had been like prior to her modifications. Had it truly been so long that she had forgotten?
Part of her was still afraid, as Lena moved a little closer to her but stopped to wait for her approval or for her to close the gap. She was afraid of how her body might react, afraid that maybe she might never be able to share intimacy again. Angela had said it could take months, but what if it never fully completed healing?
It was a question that in that moment she didn't feel like answering. The only thing she wanted to answer was Lena's lips parting to invite her own in.
Tentatively, she leant in until they were pressed together. Warm skin to warm skin, lips so soft that they could be compared to the finest silk on Earth and yet so much more delicious. It wasn't as though they hadn't kissed before, she remembered those first few passionate moments between them, as Tracer and a breaking Widowmaker. This was different though, everything felt more.... real. She could taste the leftover coffee on Lena's lips, felt a flutter in her chest as a small whimper escaped the Brit's throat.
She found herself readily parting her lips, staying like that for a moment, inviting her partner in to taste her and to deepen the kiss. There was a second or two of hesitation before Lena followed suit, tilting her head a little to get better access as their mouths met in a slow dance of tongues and lips. So much heat, so much pressure, Lena's mouth hungry against her own as she kissed her back in kind.
In the back of her mind there was a fear that it would all come crashing down around her, that the sensations of the kiss would be too much and her brain would have a wave of pain that would leave her reeling away from her partner but it never came. Instead the parting was natural, the two gazing into each other's eyes and warm breaths coming out softly. It took her a bit to realise she was smiling and her cheeks were warm. Amélie ducked her head to hide her blush, not missing the way Lena's lips cocked up into a little smile to match hers and let out a small laugh.
“That was...” Amélie began, her voice catching in her throat and leaving her unable to find a way to finish the sentence. Lena's hands were careful to skirt around her upper waist, not touching the areas that were still considered a 'no go zone'.
“Bloody fantastic.” Lena finished her thoughts for her.
Amélie couldn't help but let out a small laugh, licking her lips that suddenly felt very empty without a matching pair on top of them. She hadn't realised her hands were tangling in a mess of brown, tussled hair, pulling Lena closer.
She didn't need words to ask for more of those delicious kisses, the Brit following her guide and closing the distance between them again.
~
Amélie hadn't remembered kissing being so tiring, but then again she could also never remember a time where all she'd wanted to do was make out for hours on end like a teenager either. Of course she had wanted more, but for the time being the kissing and the closeness she felt to her companion as they held each other was enough.
They'd fallen into a routine of sharing Lena's bed together, Amelie's room becoming quite empty and mostly disused other than the odd visit to collect clean clothes or to have the odd moment to herself. Lena had mentioned something about them 'U-Hauling' together, but she hadn't really understood the reference and Lena had brushed it off as 'nothing' and seemed a little embarrassed at herself.
She hadn't dreamed since they'd started sharing a bed at night, so it seemed strange to her the images that came to her after that night in particular.
~
Amélie opened her eyes, finding herself perched upon a rooftop, the Widow's Kiss in her hands and her sights set on a target dressed in black and white tactical armour. There was a gasp that left her lips as she realised it was a Talon operative, and panic as her trigger finger twitched and the target was erased.
Pulling away from the rifle she straightened and stared down at the weapon that seemed to stare back at her, asking her to come back and take it in her hands once again. Feel that rush of the kill, the pleasure of tracking a target. Just like that man you murdered with your bare hands only a few months ago.
“They are Talon, they do not deserve our sympathy, non?”
It was her own voice, but it wasn't coming from herself.
Amélie turned suddenly to come face to face with... herself? But not her.... it was Widowmaker. Her skin a pallid colour tinged with blue, her body clad in that skin tight armour that the sickos at Talon used to call their 'Honey Pot'.
Inspecting the woman that was... is... used to be? Her. Her own skin now was taking on a much more healthy shade. Her emotions were becoming easier to sort through and to feel in general.
“What- why are you here?” Amélie asked, her voice firm but with an edge of doubt to it. Widowmaker watched her with those piercing golden eyes for a moment, tilting her head like an animal watching her with intrigue.
“It is your mind, you tell me.”
Well, she couldn't argue with that necessarily.
Amélie turned away, bringing her arms around to hold herself as a feeling of coldness swept over her, goosebumps forming along her skin.
“Angela... the surgery. My mending mind... this shouldn't be happening. You shouldn't be here.”
There was the sound of footsteps approaching her from behind, but she didn't feel threatened by it. They were soft and purposeful, the owner not having any malicious intent.
“Yes, Talon can no longer control us or manipulate us like their puppet. The doctor did a magnificent job of freeing us from their hold.”
Amélie turned her head just a hair to her left until she caught a glimpse of blue in her peripheral vision.
“Us? But you should not be here-”
“Shouldn't I? I was created from you, not created in your place.”
There was a pause before the doppelganger continued.
“I am you. You are me.”
“But Lena,” Amélie paused for a moment, shaking her head before turning back to face Widowmaker again. “She saved me, she gave me a chance and believed in me when the technology inside of me was failing. I could have died but she-”
“-Made us feel alive.”
A burst of cool air washed over her, buffeting against her back and making her curl tighter on herself to protect from the chill. She felt confused, angry, maybe a little bit upset.
“I can't be that again, if that's why you're here. I will never murder Lena or her friends in cold blood, not like Talon made me.”
A brow quirked on Widowmaker's face and after a moment she almost looked like she was going to laugh, but she didn't.
“Is that what you think?”
Shrugging, Amélie looked at the ground, unsure of herself.
“Why else would you be here?”
Silence.
“Because she needs me.”
Two pairs of golden eyes met in the middle, and a prickling ran up Amelie's spine as a familiar sensation radiated off of Widowmaker. She could feel it as if it was her own. Following the line of Widow's right arm, she saw the tight-balling of her fist.
“You... you're not here to kill her.”
A cold hand pressed firmly against her shoulder, but she didn't dare look up.
“She gave me back my independence, my humanity,” Widowmaker spoke in low tones, most of the edge was gone even as her fingers dug into Amelie's shoulder as though seeking support. “I... I love her.”
Amélie reached up, her hand enclosing around Widow's and encasing it in her own warmth.
“I love her too.”
“Then you know that we must do everything possible to protect her. Protect our family.”
Amélie tilted her head up, looking to meet Widowmaker's gaze, confusion crossing her features as she tried to decipher what she meant.
“Our family?”
But Widowmaker wasn't meeting her gaze. She was looking past her, over her shoulder. Such intensity in itself compelled Amélie to turn, to see what had captured her attention so sincerely.
The scenery around her had shifted and morphed, the once cool air now warm and tickling against her skin in a pleasant way. In the distance she could see a woman, built slim and small. Her dark brown hair reached down to her shoulders, a bright smile beaming across her face as she pushed a girl in a swing at the park who appeared to be around eight years old.
As though sensing she was being watched, the brunette looked in Amelie's direction, her smile softening and her hazel eyes glinting in the sunlight. Suddenly she realised it was Lena and her heart set ablaze. The little girl saw her too, waiting for the swing to reach its peak before leaping from it and taking a few wobbly steps before bolting towards her.
“Maman!”
Something warm settled inside of Amelie's chest, her feet moving forwards of their own accord.
“Maman!” she called again, so close now, her Converse sneakers pounding against the ground. Amélie knelt down, her arms open wide, the wind completely knocked from her lungs as the little girl slammed into her with a fair bit of force. She hugged her so tightly, listening to her little giggles of joy and pressing her hands into her jacket as if that by some means she could carry her with her from the dream world into reality.
“Raina honey you really gotta be more careful, ya' gonna' knock your mother rotten one o' these days.”
Amélie recognised that warm, cockney accent, embracing her daughter for just a few more moments before standing. Even so, Raina stayed attached firmly to her side.
“Lena-”
“That's my name!”
Amélie laughed. It might have been a dream, but it was like the real thing was right there in front of her. Well, except perhaps for the slightly longer and more feminine hairstyle. It looked damn good on her regardless.
“You are a dream come true,” Amélie whispered, motioning for Lena to come closer and enjoying the roll of eyes she got in response.
“You're bloody balmy you are,” Lena retorted, but let loose a silly smile before being pulled into a desperate and crushing hug. “Woah, y'alright gorgeous?”
There was a tickling sensation on her cheek, coursing down its length until it dribbled onto her lips. It was salty.
“I won't let them harm you, I won't let them take my family.”
Reaching up to wipe away the tears, she paused for a moment to see that the skin on her hand was a pale shade of blue as though she was Widowmaker once again. The hair on the nape of her neck rose as she felt an energy fill her, strong and deep within, a power that whispered to her that the ones she loved would always be safe underneath her watch.
The blue slowly faded back to her natural skin shade, lightly sun kissed.
~
Amelie awoke with a start, a gasp breaking from her throat as she sat up straight in bed. Her cotton singlet was lightly soaked with sweat, her mouth parched.
Looking over at the clock, she could see it was just after 6am. Too early for breakfast, but there was no way she'd be able to get back to sleep now.
Lena was still softly snoring beside her, face buried in her pillow and one arm loosely draped around Amelie's waist. She was grateful she hadn't woken her up, a light smile gracing her lips as she reached over and gently ran the backs of her fingers along the Brit's cheek.
“Nhhnn... bloody giraffes.... shouldn't have such long necks....”
It took everything in Amelie's willpower to not absolutely lose it laughing, shaking her head at the adorable sleep talk and managing to keep her composure long enough to remove the arm from her waist and slowly slip out of bed.
Searching around the floor, she managed to find her slippers, sliding her feet into them and giving one last look back at Lena- comfortable in bed- before quietly opening the door and leaving to get some fresh air.
It was early enough that the halls were still and empty. Most people didn't start waking up and filing out until 7:30, which gave her at least a good hour and a half to herself. Trudging her way towards the cafeteria, she placed the back of her hand over her mouth to stifle her yawn. As she rounded the corner, she was surprised to see there was another in the kitchen, pouring herself a cup of coffee and looking strangely casual.
“You're up early,” Fareeha spoke with a smile, almost filling her cup to the brim with steaming hot coffee. “Coffee?” she offered, lifting the mug a little in offer and quirking a brow.
“Yes, thank you,” Amelie replied, moving towards her and waiting for the drink to be poured. She gave a grateful smile, reaching for the sugar and adding two cubes. She gave it a thorough stir, not bothering to add any milk.
“Are you usually up so early?” Amelie enquired, taking her coffee and making her way over to one of the tables, seating herself.
Fareeha sat opposite her, pulling the hood of her jumper up over her head for some extra warmth. She cradled her coffee in her hands, letting it warm her skin.
“Yeah, you get used to it when you're in the military, it just becomes habit I guess,” she replied, looking over at Amelie as a grin tried to sneak its way onto her lips. “Plus Angela was snoring.”
Amelie laughed, and it felt good. Part of her was picturing a passed out Angela, drooling all over her pillow and snoring so loud the windows vibrated. It was a world away from her immaculate image as a doctor, and somehow it pleased her greatly. Leaning her elbows on the table she sipped at her coffee. Fareeha regarded her with a warm smile, peering over her own steaming hot drink.
“You're not usually up at this hour. Bad dreams?” She offered, and Amelie instantly felt the bizarre sensations return to her at the memory of her dreams.
She paused for a few moments, grateful that the woman across from her seemed to offer no judgement, waiting patiently for her to decide on her answer.
“Do you ever dream about- children? That is, you and Angela, the future. I-” she stopped mid sentence as she watched Fareeha lift her brows in reply, sitting up straighter in her chair. Amelie shifted uncomfortably, silently damning these plastic chairs. “Merde, I've been having these dreams of Lena and I and we- they feel so real, but in them we have a daughter. We're happy, but then there is always this feeling in the back of my head. Something warning me of danger. I don't know if it's Talon or something else, but I fear so much for them.”
Peering down at her coffee now she felt that familiar rush of emotions running back to her, the fear of her family being snatched away from her and leaving her with nothing. She could feel a strange pricking sensation in her eyes, blinking rapidly to try and disperse it, a cold heat burning behind her pounding heart. Fareeha reached over, resting one of her rough, calloused palms over hers. It was warm, comforting. Peering up she met deep brown eyes that were glinting with a smile that had all the depth of heart she knew the woman possessed.
“Listen, sometimes we just have bad dreams but-” Fareeha licked her lips, considering her words carefully. She took a deep breath and continued. “-sometimes it's for a reason. Sometimes it's because there's something on our mind, things bothering us. Have you talked to Lena about these dreams?”
Amelie pulled her coffee closer, bringing it up to her lips to take a drink. Fareeha returned her hand to her own mug, doing the same.
“Non I haven't. I wouldn't even know where to begin with the subject of children, we haven't even-” and she paused in her train of though, bringing a hand up to her cheek to try and hide the light blush that crept up her jawline.
Fareeha eyed her for a moment trying to figure out her meaning, her eyebrows eventually lifting on her forehead as she let out a quiet “oh.” The French woman averted her eyes, rapping her fingertips nervously against her mug.
Clearing her throat, Fareeha took a big sip of her coffee and set it down rather unceremoniously.
“You know what? I think you two need to get out of this base, get out and have some fun on the town. It can't be doing you any good considering everything you've been through,” Fareeha paused, giving her what could only be described as an apologetic smile. “We're not Talon, and this certainly isn't a prison.”
Looking up at her, Amelie couldn't help but feel a little bit sceptical. Lifting an eyebrow, it seems that Fareeha was also reconsidering that.
“Well, perhaps run it by Winston or Angela first.”
Sighing softly, she resigned herself to the fact that maybe Fareeha was right. Maybe she'd been cooped up too long. Even when she was with Talon they would have her out on missions several times a week, always keeping her on her toes and keeping her mind engaged- even if it was on killing. There was only so much of the same old hallways and walks through the same garden beds you could do before it all got repetitive and boring.
She continued tapping her coffee mug nervously as she worked over the thought. Finally she shot Fareeha a look as she made up her mind. “Yes, I think I shall.”
The soldier across from her smiled, a genuine warm smile that almost made her feel like she had some kind of semblance of a normal life.
They continued in their conversation for a while longer until people started filtering in for breakfast. Amelie jumped at the sensation of slender arms wrapping around her shoulders, but she relaxed as a warm breath tickled her ear and a familiar British accent spoke softly and sleepily.
“Sorry luv, didn't mean to scare ya'.”
A tender kissed was placed on her cheek and she couldn't avoid the warm tingling that blossomed in her chest and along her arms, lips threatening to form one of those 'adorable smiles' that Lena apparently liked so much.
She enjoyed the embrace for a moment longer before Lena eventually plopped down beside her, brandishing a gigantic blueberry muffin that was almost half the size of her head.
“It's fine,” she eyed the muffin suspiciously, clicking her tongue at her girlfriend. “Please tell me you're eating something more substantial for breakfast than that.”
Lena almost seemed offended at the thinly veiled insult against her muffin, lifting a hand to her chest.
“I'll have you know that it's got all the carbs I need to start my day off right. Plus! The blueberries have vitamins.”
Amelie laughed, if only because of the way in which the brunette pronounced the word 'vitamins'. She allowed her plucky Brit to consume her terrible breakfast anyway, even holding her tongue when Lena suggested that she might go back for another one.
Well, now is as good of a time as any.
“Would you like to go to lunch with me?” she enquired quickly, her eyes meeting Lena's and watching the girl's expression as she wore one of her warm smiles in return.
“I almost always 'av lunch with ya' babe, you know that-”
“I mean outside. At a restaurant, or cafe perhaps.” She paused, letting the information sink in, Lena's eyes flickering between her own.
Amelie looked down at the table in front of her, fidgeting with her hands. “Fareeha suggested I ask Angela or Winston for permission. I thought I should ask you first. Would you like to?”
She dared to look back up now, Lena's expression glowing with warmth and adoration, her voice softer as she took Amelie's hands in her own and squeezed them gently.
“O'course, I'd love that so much,” her eyes lit up, a little giggle spilling from her lips. Oh, that was such a wonderful sound. “Wherever you wanna' go too, I don't mind, as long as I'm with you.”
It was such a sweet, endearing sentiment that she couldn't help but smile herself. She tangled their fingers together, enjoying the fact that she could do so now comfortably, feeling every little bump, ridge and scar that covered Lena's hands.
“You are too sweet, but we shall see what Angela says first.”
“Mum's the word!”
Amelie hummed in agreement, daring to lean over and place a little kiss just along her partner's jawline. She was excited to do something much more domestic with Lena, and she was not afraid to let the world know it.
Yes, getting out of here for the day was certainly looking more appealing by the minute.
And this has reminded me why I don’t go on the WoW forums as well. There is so many people saying disgusting things about Sylvanas, being toxic/misogynistic and using a hypocritical attitude towards her and we all know that it’s only because she’s a woman.
Also if they make her a raid boss I refuse to kill her.
