Sparks

“Oh, can you grab the remote for the gate out of the glove box?” Catra asks as they pull up to the building’s car park security gate, “I keep forgetting to get a new key chain for it after the last one broke.”

“Got it.” Adora says after she pulls the remote out and clicks the button, “I haven’t seen the garage before.”

“Do you have a car?” The magicat turns in once the gates open and then waits until they close again before driving further.

“No. I’ve got my license and all, but I just haven’t really had a need to drive.” Adora starts to explain, “Since I’m usually close enough to walk to where I need to go. Otherwise, I can grab public transport or a ride or something.”

Catra nods, “I don’t usually drive unless I have to.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” The magicat confirms, “I drove this morning because it’s a bit sketchy walking to work at 4am in the morning.”

Adora nods, “I wouldn’t want to be doing that either. Not at that time, anyways.”

Catra parks up and turns off the engine, “I take it the spot next to mine is probably yours.”

Adora shrugs and then spots the numbers on the ground, “Oh, yeah, you’re right. How’d you know?”

The magicat unbuckles her seatbelt with a chuckle, “Because it’s the only space without a car in it.”

“Oh, right.” Adora replies with a blush as she gets out of the car and closes the door, doing her best not to face palm herself in the process.

Catra goes around and locks her door after locking her own and then goes to reach for Adora’s hand, before quickly retracting her hand awkwardly, “Sorry, I should have asked if I could touch you.”

Adora rolls her eyes, the blonde grabs Catra’s hand and interlaces her fingers with the magicat’s, “You can hold my hand, Catra.”

“Oh, right. Cool…” Catra nods nonchalantly making Adora giggle, “Okay, then. Shall we head upstairs?”

“We shall.” Adora grins, “Lead the way.”

“This way, princess.” Catra grins back as she leads them to the elevator and pushes the button, “So, how much of this building have you seen?”

“Just the elevator, the lobby and my apartment. Why?” Adora turns her head to face Catra’s.

“Just wondering. So… first time in the garage, huh?” Catra says hoping her hand isn’t getting too sweaty in Adora’s, “Also, you can let go of my hand if it starts to get gross…”

Adora laughs as she holds up their joined hands, “No. I think I’ll hold on to this. Just in case, you know.”

“In case of what?” Catra asks as the lift finally gets to their floor and the doors open.

Once they step in and Adora swipes her card on the reader and pushes the top floor, the blonde shoulder bumps the magicat playfully, “In case someone tries to hit on me again.”

Catra chuckles and admits, “It’s not the first time I’ve had to swoop in.” she watches as Adora sighs and then adds, “Though, I get why you get a lot of attention.”

“Is that so?” Adora quirks an eyebrow back at Catra, “Tell me, Cat. Why do I get so much attention?”

“It’s simple really.” Catra says while collecting her confidence, “You were the brightest light in the room.” Adora blushes as Catra continues on, “The brightest light in every room I bet. And something so bright… well, others always want to have some of that light to shine on them too.”

“You’re too much.” Adora rolls her eyes fondly, her blush deepening as she looks away from Catra, “And you’re so full of it. I am not the brightest light.”

“Yeah, you really are.” Catra doubles down, “And you know what that makes me?”

“What?”

“I’m the spark.” Catra grins.

“The spark?” Adora repeats confused as the elevator doors open up to the top floor and they step out.

“Yep, the spark.” Catra says, “I’m the spark that makes you burn so bright in any room I walk into.”

“Stars…” Adora laughs, “What a line…”

“I saw them, you know…” Catra adds as they stay in front of the now shut elevator doors, “I saw sparks. When I saw you from the bar earlier in the night, I saw sparks. And then, boom, the room lit up and I was practically blinded.”

Adora can’t stop smiling, “Catra, you don’t need to feed me lines.”

“I’m really not.” Catra says, “Maybe… one day you’ll see sparks around me too.”

“Maybe.” Adora replies with a hopeful look as she pulls out her keys, “Uh, thanks for taking me home.”

“My pleasure, Adora.” Catra replies as she takes out her keys too, “But it’s also my home too, so I really didn’t do anything special. Did you still want company tonight?”

Adora bites her bottom lip as she weighs up her options.

Option A: Go home into her apartment alone and be lonely.

Option B: Go to Catra’s apartment… if she lets her in…

Option C: Have Catra keep her company in her apartment and she can call the shots

Option D: Have Catra keep her company in the magicat’s apartment so she can escape back to her place if things take a turn for the worse…

“Adora?” Catra voice breaks through Adora’s thought.

“Hm?”

“You seem to have a lot to think about.” Catra notices and then pulls her phone out of her pocket, “How about we just exchange numbers and if you want company in the form of me coming over or vice versa, just text or call me? Heck, knock on my door if you’d like.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s a good idea.” Adora smiles back as she pulls her phone out and unlocks it and holds it out to Catra.

They quickly exchange details, handing the devices back to one another as Catra nods, “Okay, well, I’m literally just across the hall from you if you need anything.”

Adora looks at the magicat’s door and then her own, “Oh, right. That’s convenient.”

Catra laughs as she heads to her door, sticking the key in and turning the lock over, “Yeah. It was nice meeting you tonight, Adora.” The magicat pushes her door open and flicks on the light, “Feel free to knock on my door if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” Adora nods, “And yeah, same for you.”

Catra smiles, reaching out for Adora’s hand once again, this time more confidently, squeezing the blonde’s hand before letting go, “Goodnight, Adora.”

“See ya, Catra.” Adora says as she disappears into her apartment and shuts the door.

Catra stares at the blonde’s door for a few moments before chastising herself for being so forward and then steps into her own place.

Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

“What the fuck…?” Catra growls out as she forces her eyes open at the sounds of someone knocking loudly on her door as she throws on an old shirt and trudges over to the door, swinging it open, “What?! Oh…”

“Sorry…” Adora grimaces as she looks away sheepishly and that’s when Catra notices that it’s completely dark in the hallway, dressed in her pajamas that’s decorated with horses or unicorns or something. It’s too early or too late for Catra to make a joke about them as Adora kind of holds herself in front of the magicat.

“Uh, hey Adora?” Catra says as she leans against the door frame and runs a hand through her messy short bed hair, she can see the blonde searching for the magicat’s eyes, “What uh… what’s up?”

“The um… the power went out.” Adora points up to lights that are supposed to be on in the hallway.

Catra nods despite the blonde not being able to see, “I can see that.”

Adora snorts out a laugh at the irony, “You can see that it’s dark?”

The magicat rolls her eyes, “I can see in the dark better than your human eyes.”

“Not human.” Adora points to herself and then smugly says, “I’m a First One.”

“And what is a ‘first one.’?” Catra asks genuinely confused, “First what exactly.

“First One.” Adora repeats like Catra should know, “I’m like… from an ancient race.”

“Uh huh.” Catra nods and then realizes that they’re having a conversation in her doorway and clears her throat, “Do you want to come in, princess? I’m not really one for conversations in my doorway. Too many nosy people around if you know what I mean…”

“Oh.” Adora says a little in surprise as she tries to look up and down the hallway.

“Or we can go to your place.” Catra suggests with a yawn instead.

“You want to come to my place?” Adora asks with the same amount of surprise as before.

“Sure.” The magicat shrugs, “Unless you rather we just stay here in the hallway.”

Boom!

Adora shrieks at the sound of thunder, jumping on the spot and looking around like she might find the source of the noise in the building. Catra sees the scared look on her face and sighs, “Do you want to come in?”

“Yes.” Adora replies quickly, reaching out for the magicat. Catra obliges and grabs her hand and guides her inside her place, “Thanks. I’m not a huge fan of thunder and lightning…”

“Me neither.” Catra admits quietly and it brings a little smile to Adora’s face at having something in common, “Though, my dislike of them has more to do with the effect it has on my ears.”

“I’m usually okay if I’ve got something to distract me… but the power went out and well…” Adora laughs nervously, “Nothing to distract me…”

“I can distract you.” Catra says as she guides the blonde to her couch, “Sit. Did you lock up your place before you came knocking on my door?”

“Oh shoot!” Adora gets up again and then grimaces again, “I’m not really sure actually…”

“What do you mean, you’re not really sure?” Catra asks bemused.

“Well… I don’t have my keys on me…” Adora says after patting herself down, “So… I really hope I didn’t lock up my place… and… possibly lock myself out…”

Catra can’t help herself and laughs, “You’re such an idiot.”

“Hey!” Adora says with a pout.

Catra reaches out and grabs Adora’s hand again, “Come on then, we’ll go check.”

“Okay.” Adora squeezes the magicat’s hand in return.

Catra grabs her flashlight that’s on the counter and turns it on, “There we go, now you can see.”

“You’re prepared.” Adora’s eyes adjust to the light as she lets Catra lead them back to the door, “I should probably get one too.”

“I lived with Traps long enough to know I needed one if she was constantly fucking around with the power grid.” Catra shrugs as they head out of her apartment, the magicat pocketing her keys after pulling her door shut, shining the light onto Adora’s door, “Well? Locked or not?”

Adora takes a deep breath and then reaches out and pushes down on the handle, the door opens, and she visibly breathes out in relief, “Thank the stars…”

“Well, that’s good.” Catra nods with a yawn, “Are you going to be alright in there by yourself?”

“No.” Adora bites her bottom lip at the admission, “Can you… keep me company?”

“As long as you don’t complain about me falling asleep on top of you, then yes. I’d be more than happy to keep you company.” Catra replies smacking her lips and staving off the sleep that’s trying to pull her back into dreamland.

“That’s fine.” Adora grins as she pulls Catra inside, “I don’t mind if you fall asleep. Maybe not on top of me… but still. Sleeping company is still company.”

“If you say so.” Catra replies with another yawn as she’s led over to Adora’s bedroom, “Hey, wait a minute, princess.”

“Hm?”

“Why are you bringing me to your bedroom?” Catra asks feeling a little more awake, “I thought you said sex was off the table.”

“Well, considering that you’re probably going to fall asleep soon, I figured it’d be more comfortable in bed.” Adora shrugs like it’s no big deal, “Plus it’s not like we’re going to just… you know… start having sex.”

“Sleep sex?”

“Stars no…” Adora breathes out, shaking her head with a giggle, “No sleep sex.”

“Okay.” Catra says as Adora lets the magicat’s hand go to get in bed first, “Ladies first.”

“Get in.” Adora pats the empty spot on the bed next to her.

Catra shrugs and reaches down to pull her shirt off when she remembers she’s not in her own room, “Hm… I guess I better keep my shirt on then, huh?”

“If you don’t mind.” Adora nods, “I can put the… oh, no I can’t. There’s no power for the fan.”

“It’s fine, princess.” Catra flops onto Adora’s bed and then nuzzles into the pillow and a low rumble of a purr emanates from the magicat’s chest, “Smells nice… real nice.”

“What smells nice?”

“You.” Catra closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in of Adora’s scent, “If I’m being too weird or whatever, just tell me to stop.”

“It’s fine.” Adora smiles as she reaches over for the flashlight still on in Catra’s hand and turning it off, “You’re really cute when you do that.”

Too tired to care, Catra flops onto her back and blinks her eyes open tiredly, “So, Adora. Not a fan of the suit guy earlier at the bar?”

“Stars no.” Adora shakes her head, “Definitely not.”

“Why not?” Catra moves her hands under her head, “Don’t like suits?”

Adora chuckles, “I like suits.”

“Just not that suit.” Catra surmises with a smirk.

“I liked you in your suit tonight.” Adora turns over in the direction of the magicat, “Very… handsome.”

“That’s a new one.” Catra smiles tiredly up at the blonde’s ceiling, “I don’t get handsome as a compliment much.”

“No?”

“No. Usually it’s devilishly rogue or that I clean up good for a magicat.” Catra laughs.

“Well, those too then.” Adora agrees, “Though I’m sure you look good no matter what.”

“Such a flatterer, you are, princess.” Catra turns her head to see the soft look on Adora’s face, “You’re the light of any room that you walk into. And right now, you’re absolutely blinding.”

“That’s because you’re the spark.” Adora throws back when she remembers the words Catra told her before they parted to their own places, “I wish I could see what you see in me.”

“I’m glad you can’t.” Catra grins as Adora furrows her brows, “Because we can’t both be sparks and if you could, then you’d have to believe your own hype.”

“Hey!” Adora snorts out a laugh as she shoves Catra, the magicat cackling at the action, “Thank you for keeping me company tonight.”

“And one day you’ll be able to sleep alone in your apartment.” Catra jests before her breath hitches when she feels Adora’s hand on her stomach, “What are you doing, princess?”

“Too much?” Adora asks recoiling slightly as Catra quickly places her hand over the top of Adora’s to keep it on her stomach, “Is this okay?”

“Yeah.” Catra breathes out.

“I hope I never have to sleep alone in my apartment.” Adora whispers.

“Thinking of bringing random people home to sleep with, are you?” Catra quirks an eyebrow at the blonde and it earns her another shove, the magicat laughs again, “Or is it just me you want to keep you company?”

“Just you.” Adora answers easily, even surprising herself a little at how easy that came out.

“Oh.”

“Too soon?”

“No.” Catra intertwines her fingers with Adora’s, “One step at a time, right?”

“Right.” Adora nods, leaning in and pressing her lips onto Catra’s cheek, “Company first.”

“And then?” Asks the magicat with a grin at getting another kiss from the blonde.

“And then…” Adora thinks before she answers, “Hopefully something more…”

“That sounds nice.” Catra nods again and yawns, “I’m going to rest my eyes for a minute…”

“You’re totally going to fall asleep, aren’t you?” Adora giggles out as she settles herself on next to Catra, her cheek slightly on the magicat’s shoulder.

“Nah, I’m not tired…” Catra replies completely unconvincingly as she yawns out at the same time, “I can stay awake for hours…”

“Sure, you can.” Adora smiles over as she feels the magicat’s body rigid and then hears Catra’s breathing slowing, taking deeper breathes, the blonde smiles, rubbing her cheek softly on the magicat’s shoulder, “Sleep. I want you to.”

“Mm…” Catra hums out in return and then she breathes out, “I’m right here…”

“I know.” Adora whispers back, “Sleeping company…”

“Your company… for as long as you want me.” Catra wraps an arm around Adora so the blonde can get closer to her, “What time do you want me out in the morning?”

“Hm?” Adora pushes her head up slightly, “I’ve got nothing tomorrow. Stay as long as you want.”

Catra grins, she rubs her cheek against Adora’s head before pressing her lips to it softly, “Then I’ll always stay…” the magicat yawns once more and Adora can feel the muscles in Catra’s body relax as the magicat adds, “For as long as you want me to.”

BOOM!

Adora squeezes her eyes shut tighter at the sound of lightning so close, wrapping herself around Catra’s sleeping form next to her.

Catra murmurs something and Adora’s turns her thoughts to that, happy for the distraction as she whispers, “Catra? Did you say something?”

“Mm… ‘s alright…” Catra mumbles as she tightens her hold around the blonde, “…safe.”

Adora takes a calming breath in and out and nods, “I know…”

“Mm… here.” Catra rubs her cheek against Adora’s, a soothing purr fills the room, “I got you, princess…”

Adora nods once more. Her body relaxes despite the ongoing thunder outside until her eyelids feel heavy and she falls asleep in Catra’s arms. Happy for the company and the distraction.