Exhaustion
“Hey.” Adora says groggily as she feels the bed move.
“Hey Adora.” Catra replies softly as she moves and throws her legs over the side of the bed.
“Where are you going?” Adora turns over and grabs her phone to check the time, “It’s late.”
“Exactly.” Catra replies as she tries to get herself out of Adora’s bed, only for the blonde to reach out and grab her wrist, “Adora. I’m going to be late.”
“You’re not working tonight.” Adora sternly says.
“It’s a bit late to cancel, princess.” Catra argues back.
“Don’t worry about it.” Adora sighs.
“Don’t worry about it? Are you serious?” Catra looks at Adora like she’s grown a second head, “I can’t get another black mark against my name. And not showing up is like… 2 black marks.”
“You’re an idiot.” Adora grumbles as she tugs on Catra’s wrist, the magicat falls back on the bed ungracefully with a yelp, “You’re not working today.”
“Yes. I am.”
“No. You’re not.”
“Adora.”
“Catra.”
“Stop.” Catra grunts out, “You’re going to get me fired. Is that what you want?”
“No.” Adora replies.
“Then?” Catra pulls her wrist free, “I need to go home and get ready.”
“Catra.”
“No, Adora.” Catra tries to get off the bed again but finds the effects of her exhaustions lingering on her muscles as she flops back onto the bed, “Fuck… I’m so fired…”
“You’re an idiot.” Adora repeats and Catra glares at her with one eye open, “I’ve already called ahead to let them know you’re not working your next 2 shifts.”
“What?!” Catra sits up too quickly and then feels lightheaded before she concedes, “Why?”
“You’re exhausted, Catra.” Adora deadpans.
“So?” Catra whines, “I’ve worked on a lot less.”
“That doesn’t make it better.” Adora chastises as she sits up and checks up on the magicat, “You’re exhausted. Which means you could really hurt someone.”
Catra closes her one eye and huffs out.
Adora flops back down on the bed next to the magicat, “You need to look after yourself, Catra.”
“I know.” Catra grumbles.
“And… you can stay here as long as you need to get better.” Adora offers.
“I’m not sick. I don’t need you to nurse me back to health.” Catra groans out as she reaches out to her phone before she turns her head and opens the same eye again, “How did you talk them into letting me get out of a few shifts?”
“I have my ways.” Adora smirks back to the magicat, “Now, get back to sleep. I’ve got the morning shift and I need my beauty sleep.”
In her exhausted state, Catra shuts her good eye and breathes out the words, “You are beautiful…”
Adora giggles upon hearing that tired comment, “You say that to all the girls you hijack beds from?”
Catra shakes her head and hums out, “No… only you…”
“Oh…” that stuns Adora, “I was just playing…”
“Mm…” Catra hums out as she turns back over to cuddle into Adora’s blankets, “Thanks for looking out for me.”
“No problems.” Adora replies softly as she turns to look at Catra’s back before trying to make the situation a little less awkward, “Maybe thank me by not stealing all my blankets…”
“No.” Catra replies with a grin, “That’s the price you pay for kidnapping me and holding me hostage.”
Adora gasps, “I did not kidnap you. And you are not being held hostage!”
“Uh huh.” Catra replies tiredly, “I just happen to be dragged into your place and bed and then not allowed to leave…?”
“You were about to collapse at my front door.” Adora points out, noticing the subtle shake of Catra’s body who is obviously trying to hold back laughter, “And my couch is not good for sleeping.”
“Likely story, princess.” Catra teases with a yawn, “I know you just want me in your bed…”
“Uh, no.’ Adora protests and then says, “Besides my bed is huge…”
“Which is why you always end up cuddled up to me.” Catra points out as Adora huffs out, “Not that I mind, but maybe you should ask first… you know… consent and all.”
Adora’s brain takes that in and then panic starts to set in as she starts to ramble, “Oh my stars! I am so sorry, Catra! I didn’t mean to… I didn’t… I should have asked you what you wanted before shoving you on my bed. Oh, I’m such an idiot… I didn’t even think anything of it.”
“Stars…” Catra groans as she turns over and this time opens both eyes at her, “It’s fine, princess. At least I didn’t fall asleep while fucking you.”
Adora’s eyes widen, and her face goes red, “That… that was not part of the plan…”
“Plan, huh?” Catra grins tiredly back at her, “This was all part of your plan?”
“What? No!” Adora quickly refutes, “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
Catra chuckles and then relinquishes half of the blanket, “Better get some sleep, princess. Or you’re going to be a liability at work too.”
Adora rolls her eyes and pulls the blanket back over herself, “Thank you.”
“Night, Adora.” Catra mumbles as her eyes close again and she goes back to sleep.
“Night, Catra.”
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
“Ugh… really, princess?” Catra rolls over to glare at the blonde as the alarm continues to loudly blare on the far side of the bed, “Adora?”
The blonde reaches out and blindly tries to grab her phone before Catra hears her sniffle, “Ugh… my head…”
Catra crawls over the blonde and turns the alarm off finally, the movement draining her energy as she slumps sideways on top of Adora dramatically, “My body feels so heavy…”
Adora tries to laugh, but instead she starts to cough and Catra quickly scurries off her, “Sorry… but you are kind of heavy.”
Catra flops back down onto her side of Adora’s bed and exhales at the movement, “Why the fuck do you have your alarm set for 430am? Shift doesn’t start until 7am.”
Adora groans out as she turns over and Catra finally gets a bit of a better look at her, she’s looking paler than usual, except for her nose, which is red as she sniffles, the magicat notices that her eyes are red like she didn’t get much sleep at all, “I go for a run in the morning before work.”
The words sound like the blonde’s mouth is full of cotton balls as Catra rolls her eyes, “You’re sick, dumbass.”
“No, I’m not.” Adora refutes, she’s definitely got a stuffy nose and probably a sore throat as she coughs again into her elbow, “Ugh… I have to get up.”
“Woah... yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Catra rolls her eyes, “I’m going to call Arrows and let him know you’re sick.”
“Catra! Don’t. I’m not…” Adora sneezes this time before finishing her sentence, “…sick.”
The magicat sits up and looks at Adora that says, unbelievable, before sighing and reaches over to grab her phone, “Yeah, you totally are sick.”
“It’s not even that bad!” Adora whines as she coughs again, putting her hand to her throat, “Maybe I’ll just skip my run and get a little more sleep…”
“Sure. That’ll will fix the fact that you’re sick. Another hour or so of sleep.” Catra flatly says as she holds her phone up and snaps a picture of Adora looking all…sick.
“Hey! Delete that right now!” Adora tries to grab Catra’s phone and fails miserably when she has to sneeze again, “Catra!”
Catra starts typing frantically on her phone and then throws it on the bed, “You’re going to get a phone call.”
Adora just looks at her confused.
“Yep.” Catra says with zero elaboration, “In 3… 2…” and then points at Adora’s phone that starts to ring.
Adora turns her head quickly, furrowing her eyes at who would be calling her this early when she sees the caller ID on the screen, she glares at Catra who just flops back down on the bed and turns over, while Adora answers the call, clearing her throat first and putting on her most positive voice, “Hey Bow! What’s up?”
“You’re sick, aren’t you?” Bow simply says, clearly been through this before.
“Me? What? No! Of course I’m not!” Adora tries to refute but it’s not very convincing when it sounds like she’s talking through her nose, “Ugh… it’s that photo Catra sent you, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Bow replies, “I have more questions regarding why she has a photo of your current state… in bed… but I’ve got to make a few calls to get you covered.”
“I can come in, Bow!” Adora pleads, “It’s not even that bad…”
“We can’t risk you infecting everyone in the hospital with the flu, Adora.” Bow says, “You know that.”
Adora nods and sighs, “Fine.”
“Let me know when you’re feeling better.” Bow says with a yawn before he whispers something that Adora can’t make out, “Anyway, rest up, Adora. Talk soon.”
Adora groans as she drops the phone on her chest, “Fine. You win.”
“Ah, how I love victories.” Catra mumbles into the pillow before turning over, “Do like Arrow’s suggested and get some rest, princess.”
“I hate you.” Adora grumbles as she sniffles again.
“I’m sure you do.” Catra replies closing her eyes again.
Catra wakes up when she feels fingers digging into her shoulder, a weight on her chest as she looks down into a mess of sweaty blonde hair and sighs, “I think you might have a fever, princess.”
Adora just scrunches her face up in response as she buries herself deeper into Catra’s chest.
“Okay.” Catra gently cards her fingers through Adora’s hair, ensuring her claws are retracted as she purrs out, trying her best to be reassuring, mentally going through what she needs to do in her head before chastising herself when it goes down the path of hospital treatments, and Adora’s sick, just, not hospital sick which makes Catra groan out softly, “What do you have in your place in terms of medication?”
Adora mutters something that Catra can’t make out before leaning in heavier into her new pillow.
“Where do you keep your drugs, princess?” Catra asks a little more forcefully, her fingers resting on Adora’s neck over the blonde’s pulse point as she quickly does a few observations.
“I know what you’re doing.” Adora turns her cheek so she can sort of talk, “Stop it.”
“No.” Catra says, “And here I thought I had a date with your bed, all to myself today.”
“This is your fault.” Adora grumbles, “I could have gone to work if you didn’t dob me in.”
Catra rolls her eyes at the blonde, “Says the princess that’s decided to use me as her pillow.”
“But you’re so comfy!” Adora wraps her arms tighter around Catra’s sore muscles, “Like a soft kitty…”
Catra growls at that, but it doesn’t have the desired effect on the sick woman that’s currently holding her down in bed, “Okay, get off me.”
“No.” Adora whines out, holding Catra even closer than the magicat thought was possible, “Stay… no one ever stays with me when I’m sick.”
Catra’s ears lay flat on her head as she finds herself pulling Adora into her, “Yeah, I know the feeling.”
“Are you going to leave me?” Adora asks in almost a whisper.
“Yeah.”
It must be the illness, but Adora starts to bawl, sobbing loudly into Catra’s chest as the magicat tenses, “…okay…”
“No, you idiot. I’m going to leave the bed to get you some water and something to get your temperature down. You’re burning up right now.” Catra explains putting a little bit of a light-hearted lilt into her voice, “You’ve banned me from leaving your place until I’m better too, remember?”
Adora’s looks up at Catra, her eyes red, her nose running and her face is wet and red, “You’d really stay?”
“Yes, princess.” Catra rolls her eyes, trying to pretend that the blonde isn’t getting to her, “Now, if you’ll let me up, I can retrieve a bunch of supplies so we can spend as much time on here as possible.”
“You promise?” Adora’s voice so small that it crushes Catra’s heart a little.
“Yeah, I promise, princess.” Catra replies, “Can I get up now?”
Reluctantly, Adora loosens her grip on Catra before rolling back on her side of the bed and wraps herself up tightly in her blankets, despite the fact that she’s sweating profusely, she’s also shivering at the same time.
“Fuck…” Catra mutters to herself as she quickly makes her way out to Adora’s kitchen, she looks around the cupboards and drawers and thinks out loud, “Where the fuck does she keep her drugs…?”
After rummaging through pretty much most of Adora’s kitchen, she finally comes across a few packs of ibuprofen and one pack of paracetamol, she grabs all of them, a bottle of sports drink that’s in her fridge and fills up a jug of water and grabs 2 glasses. There’s no way she’s sharing a cup with Adora if she’s got the flu. Once she’s got everything, she manages to get everything back into the bedroom and sets everything down without spilling or dropping anything.
She looks over and finds Adora burrito’d up in her blankets and shivering, the magicat can hear Adora’s teeth chattering as she tips some water into the glass and leaves it on the bedside table and tosses one of the packets of ibuprofen on the bed before pouncing on the bed herself and shakes the blonde.
“Hey, Adora.” Catra drawls as she shakes Adora until the blonde turns over onto her back, “Can you sit up? I got some nice pills for that fever you’re sporting and hydration to go with it.”
Adora slowly opens her eyes, registering the words and then seeing the face before a goofy smile appears on her lips, “You came back…”
“Of course, I did. I said I would, didn’t I?” Catra scoffs as she scoots back a little, “Can you sit up? I don’t want you choking on fluids or inhaling it and then getting pneumonia.”
Adora’s smile wanes a little as she shifts inside her blankets, “I can’t… I think I’m in here too tight…”
“You’re such an idiot.” Catra groans as she helps Adora loosen up the blankets around her and then with a little bit (actually a lot) of effort, the magicat manages to get Adora to sit up, resting against the headboard, “Try not to fall out of bed.”
Adora pouts unhappily at the comment, huffing out, “I’m not going to fall out of bed.”
“Sure, princess.” Catra replies with an eyeroll, “Here. Water and something for your fever.”
“Thank you.” Adora says almost crying at having Catra look after her, taking the pills and gulping down the water and before the blonde can turn to put the glass down, the magicat grabs the glass and puts it on the bedside table.
“Get some sleep, Adora.” Catra softly says, “I’m going to put your sports drink back in the fridge. And then I’m going to rummage around your kitchen a little more to see if you’ve got soup or something we can eat.”
“Catra.” Adora whines out, “You’re exhausted and not doing much better than me. You need to rest too.”
“Well, I’m triaging right now.” Catra musters up a tired smile, “I get you over this fever first and then you can look after my exhaustion and possible burn out.”
Adora tries to roll her eyes but ends up wrapping the blanket around her a little tighter, her teeth chatter and she starts to shiver, “I’m so cold…”
Catra places the back of her hand on Adora’s forehead, “Yeah, you’re still burning up.” The magicat wipes the back of her hand against the blanket around the Adora’s thigh, “And you’re still sweating up a storm. Lie down, Adora. You need to rest.”
This time, Adora doesn’t fight Catra, instead shuffling herself back down and lays on her back, her head turned to Catra, “Could you… hold me? Keep me warm?”
Catra sighs, this definitely was not how she pictured today going at all, “Let me just put your stuff away and I’ll be right back.”
Adora nods, closing her eyes as she pulls the blankets around her tighter.
Catra quickly heads back to the kitchen and puts the sports drink back in the fridge before pulling out a few cans of soup she saw earlier and a few bowls, ready to go when she has Adora back down resting again.
After a few minutes, Catra returns and sees Adora’s eyes flicker open, “I’m ready!” she grins with a sniffle, opening up the blanket for Catra to get in as well.
“Yeah, no.” Catra says and Adora pouts, “I’m not getting in there with you, princess.”
“Fine.” Adora pouts, closing the blankets back around herself, “Come back to bed?”
“Yeah, okay.” Catra says as she makes her way over.
“Hold me?” Adora asks again, the hopeful look on the blonde’s face as she watches the magicat get onto her bed, “Keep me warm?”
Catra’s eyebrows go up to her forehead as she nods slowly, the soft smile on Adora’s lips has the magicat gulping down, “Turn over. I’ll hold you from behind.”
Adora giggles as she rolls to her side, “You just want to be big spoon.”
“Totally.” Catra replies, trying to still sound like none of this is affecting her, “Hang on, I’ve got to move the pillow.”
“Mm…”
Catra wraps an arm around Adora’s middle and then pulls herself flush into Adora’s back, “Is this okay?”
“Mmhm.” Adora hums, “Yeah.”
“Okay.” Catra breathes out into Adora’s hair, “Sleep.”
It’s not long before they both fall asleep again.
BUZZ BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!
The vibration and sound from Catra’s phone wakes the magicat up, she reaches out and grabs her phone and answers, “What?”
“Catra?” Glimmer’s voice comes over the phone.
“You called me.” Catra groans out as she rolls onto her back, her body feeling sluggish and tired as she blinks her eyes open.
“I was just calling to check up on you.” Glimmer says, “Bow asked me to thank you for talking to Mrs Boot’s family.”
“Oh, yeah.” Catra rubs her eyes, “It’s fine.”
There’s a little bit of ruckus on the other side of the line, “Catra, Hey!”
“What’s up, Arrows?”
“How are you feeling?” He asks with a concerned voice, “I’m sorry for calling you in on Christmas night. I didn’t know you had worked a double…”
“Not your fault.” Catra yawns as she stretches out in bed, “You didn’t know.”
“Still.” He says with a sigh, “Next time just tell me no.”
“You said it yourself, Arrows.” Catra reminds me, “You can always depend on me. And I plan to keep that promise.”
“You’re a good friend.” Bow says with a smile on his voice, “How’s Adora?”
“She’s got a fever and probably the flu.” Catra replies, “She’s sleeping right now.”
“Wow.” Bow says and Catra can hear Glimmer in the background saying the same thing, before Bow comes back, “You have to tell me your secret.”
“What are you on about, Arrows?” Catra almost growls, she is not up for this type of conversation today.
Glimmer grabs the phone back, “How’d you do it?”
“Again… do what?” this time Catra actually does growl.
“Get her to stay home when she’s sick?” Glimmer finally answers the question, “When she used to house share with me and Bow, we had to practically lock her in her room to keep her from going to school or work. She’s just so stubborn!”
“Uh huh.” Catra says disinterested, “All I did was take a photo of her and sent it to your boy. And from what I heard, Arrows gave her the guilt trip about getting others sick.”
“Still!” Glimmer hums to herself for a moment, “…maybe the trick is that we have to sleep with her…”
“What the actual fuck are you talking about, Sparkles?” Catra growls into the phone, “I’m not fucking Adora. I practically collapsed after walking her home. She then threw me into her bed and forced me to rest.”
“Sounds like Adora.” Glimmer replies, “Anyways, tell her we’ll come by tonight.”
“Yeah, sure.” Catra yawns not really taking in those words.
“And… Catra?” Glimmer says.
“Mmhm?” Catra replies with her eye lids feeling extremely heavy.
“Thank you for looking out for her.” Glimmer replies sincerely, “You didn’t have to.”
“I had to.” Catra grumbles back.
“Why?”
“She gave me cake.” Catra simply replies, “See you guys later or whatever, I guess…”
“Yes. Rest up!” Glimmer says, “Oh! Do you want us to bring anything… foodwise?”
“Uh… whatever is fine.” Catra says, “Adora’s only got canned soups and stuff.”
“Oh.” Glimmer sounds like she’s thinking, “Okay, Bow and I are on it. We’ll bring you both something to eat.”
“Mmhm…” Catra replies, “Bye Sparkles.”
“Bye!”
“Adora!” A voice calls out from the front door, “Adora? Catra?”
Catra’s ears twitch at the sound of someone coming in and she instantly wakes up, claws at the ready to defend herself and Adora as she leaps out of bed and rushes to the bedroom door and swings it wide open and growls, only to find Bow and Glimmer standing there looking stunned and startled, “Oh, shit. Sorry… I thought you were intruders…”
Bow laughs awkwardly, gently pushing Catra’s clawed hands down, “Sorry. Glimmer should have told you we have a key so we could let ourselves in without making you get up.”
“Huh.” Catra replies scratching the back of her head and then looking back into the bedroom, “She’s still sleeping.”
“We brought food!” Bow lifts up the two brown paper bags in his hands as Glimmer goes into the bedroom to check on the blonde, “I’ll just put this on her dining table.”
“Sure.” Catra shrugs.
Glimmer comes back out and Bow asks, “How is she?”
“Flu-ey.” Glimmer replies.
“Her fever broke about an hour ago.” Catra says, “Thank fuck for that.”
“And… how are you?” Glimmer asks really looking the magicat over, “You don’t look like you’re about to drop dead.”
“Gee, thanks Sparkles.” Catra rolls her eyes tiredly, feeling every muscle in her body screaming with exhaustion still, “I can manage it.”
Bow earns himself a growl from the magicat when he puts the back of his hand against her forehead and hums to himself, “Have you been sharing her bed?”
“So what if I have?” Catra snarks back without any bite.
“Just want to make sure you haven’t been infected by the flu as well.” Bow retracts his hand, ignoring Catra’s threat, “And… you don’t have a fever.”
“I know I don’t have a fever.” Catra grumbles, “It’s not like I’m not a doctor or anything…”
Bow laughs, “I know. But you are exhausted still.”
Catra shrugs, “Yeah, well, my plans of sleeping all day kind of went out the window…”
“Awe!” Glimmer coos, Bow not far behind, “You like her, don’t you?”
Catra just growls back a response, “Is there a reason you’re here?”
“Yes! Food!” Bow announces happily and points to where he’s left the two bags, “We’d love to stay longer but we’ve got to get to the charity function tonight.”
“Oh, that fun event.” Catra recalls with a grunt, “They know I’m not going, right?”
“Yeah.” Bow replies, “I’ve made sure that you won’t be reprimanded for not attending tonight. You and Adora actually.”
“Thanks, Arrows.” Catra nods tiredly at him, “Okay… have fun schmoozing with those uptight government types.”
Bow laughs, “That’s Glimmer’s forte. I’m just the regular guy that happens to be a kick ass doctor!”
“Yes. And you can make us all look good.” Catra tries to smile and it comes out as a grimace, “Try not to mention me tonight please.”
“But the patients love you!” Bow pouts.
And just as Catra is about to refute that claim, Glimmer barges into the conversation, “Oh, I wanted to tell you that there’s an investigation being opened into the death of Mrs Boots.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Glimmer confirms, “Her family have made a… complaint.”
“Oh.” Catra replies rather glum, “It’s about me, isn’t it? I… I failed her.”
“Catra.” Bow places a hand on the magicat’s shoulder, “This wasn’t your fault. She wasn’t your patient.”
“I didn’t save her either.” Catra scoffs out.
“You also didn’t kill her.” Bow says a little more sternly, “We didn’t kill her. We did our best to save her.”
“Wasn’t good enough though, was it?” Catra’s tone laced with anger.
“This isn’t your fault.” Glimmer steps in between the pair, jutting a finger in Catra’s chest, “Stop blaming yourself.”
“Yeah, easy to say.” Catra grumbles as swats Glimmer’s finger away, “Not exactly easy to do, Sparkles.”
Glimmer sighs, taking a calming breath in and out, “Look. I know you were the one that punched that wall.” Catra’s ears flicker up before she schools them back down again as Glimmer continues, “And I know you were suspended without pay for 2 weeks.”
“What are you getting at, Sparkles?” Catra grits out angrily.
“What I’m getting at…” Glimmer huffs out irritatingly at being interrupted, “Is that Mrs Boots under normal circumstances would not have died if she was treated as per your action plan.”
“I know that.”
“But.” Glimmer continues, “Since she wasn’t treated as your patient and instead was under Prime’s care, his action plan is under investigation.”
“As it should be.” Catra says flatly.
“Yes. The board is currently investigating her death.” Glimmer says, “Her death that shouldn’t have happened in the first place if she was given the right care.”
“The board…” Catra scoffs, “The board can go fuck themselves for all I care.”
“Catra…” Bow says a little sadly.
“What?” Catra turns to him, “The board suspended me. Ignored me. They… never listen.”
“I know.” Bow sighs out, “And… I’m sorry. I wish they did listen. Mrs Boots would still be alive today.”
“He lied to her and her family.” Catra growls out, “And if he should be taken down, his licence to practise cancelled and then thrown into prison for dodgy dealing with pharmaceutical companies.”
“Well… that’s the plan.” Glimmer shrugs with a slight smile before patting Catra on the shoulder, “Get some rest, Catra. You’re no good to this world the way you are, exhausted and… grumpy.”
“I’m not grumpy.” Catra crosses her arms over her chest and an unwilling pout on her face as the day’s exertions has her losing the connection with her muscles, she swallows down and breathes in to centre herself, “Thanks for coming by. I’m going to go… collapse into bed now.”
“Oh. OH!” Bow quickly catches the magicat before she loses complete balance, “Glim! Help!”
Glimmer quickly jumps on the other side and the pair help Catra back into bed next to Adora, “Who knew she’d be so heavy!”
“Shhh!” Bow shushes Glimmer as they step back and watch Adora turn over and cuddle up to the magicat now that Catra’s back in bed with her, “Should we… should we stay and watch over them?”
“Stars, no.” Glimmer shakes her head, “They’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” Bow asks.
“Yes.” Glimmer says with conviction, “If we hang around fawning over them, they won’t get over themselves and work their shit out.”
“I don’t…” Bow starts and Glimmer just gives him the look.
“Just… leave them be.” Glimmer looks the pair over with a sigh, “Come on, we’ll lock up. We still need to get ready for tonight.”
Bow nods and follows Glimmer back to the front door.
Adora wakes up, a gentle vibration against her ear as she smiles at the feeling before realising she’s not alone in her bed. Her eyes peek open and when she’s sees a sleeping Catra next to her, she can’t help but smile just a little wider.
She sniffles out and suppresses the need to sneeze as another urge takes over. She pushes herself up and off of Catra, gently pulling the blanket back up and over the magicat before heading out to the bathroom, looking back at the grump of a magicat she had only just got to know in the last few days.
Once she’s done in the bathroom, she ventures out in search of food and another smile graces her lips when she sees the bags of food on her dining table, she takes out a few containers and starts to heat them up, grabbing a few utensils and 2 glasses, filling them up with water and sets it all up on the table.
After everything is placed and set on the table, Adora washes her hands and heads back to the bedroom where Catra is still resting. She quietly comes back inside and sits on the edge of the bed and just watches the magicat sleep, the blonde hesitating as she contemplates whether or not to wake Catra at all if she looks this peaceful.
Her thoughts are broken by the magicat’s raspy voice, “I can hear you thinking, princess… your thoughts are so loud.”
“Sorry.” Adora whispers with a slight cringe, “I’ll try to think quieter.”
Catra’s ears twitch, an eye opens and focusses on Adora, “Comedian, huh?”
That makes Adora giggle, “I think you’re the only one that thinks I’m funny.”
“Not in a funny ha-ha way though.” Catra replies with a lopsided grin before she sees Adora hand hesitantly lift and reach out to her before the blonde has second thoughts and puts it back down in her lap, “Interesting.”
“Hm?”
“You have on qualms cuddling up to me while you are sleeping…” Catra says as she pushes herself up, “If you want to touch me, then do it.”
“Uh…”
Catra reaches out and grabs Adora’s hand, the blonde gasps as Catra leans in so her head is under Adora’s hand, pushing up against it, “Go ahead. Scratch away.”
“A-Are you sure?” Adora stammers a little, her fingers trembling a little where they lay, “I don’t want to make you… uncomfortable.”
“You don’t make me feel uncomfortable, Adora.” Catra says, “So… go on. It’ll make the both of us feel better.”
“How…?” And as soon as Adora’s starts to pet the top of Catra’s head lightly, a purr rumbles to life in the magicat’s chest, the blonde’s eyes widen and she becomes a little more confident in her movements, finding herself smiling as she watches Catra melt in her touch.
“See…” Catra breathes out through her purrs, “Better.”
Adora nods, her eyes watching Catra intensely, “I’ve heated some of the food you got.”
“That wasn’t me.” Catra says, “Arrows and his girl came over and dropped off food when I told them that all you had was canned foods.”
“Oh.” Adora looks back out the door, “They were here?”
“Yep.” Catra stretches out under Adora’s still petting hand, “You slept right through it.”
“Oh.” Adora repeats and then pulls her hand back, “Are you hungry?”
“Got more cake?” Catra asks with an amused look on her face.
Adora smiles, wishing they were more than just coworkers and that she could lean in and just kiss her… Instead, she shakes her head with a small chuckle, “Maybe...? But there is soup and some casserole that Glimmer and Bow brought over.”
“Is that what was in those brown bags Arrows brought over?” Catra asks as she sniffs the air, “Smells good.”
“Come on.” Adora stands up, before turning her head quickly and coughs, “Sorry… uh, probably best not to come too close. I might get you sick too. And since you’re already not in the best shape… I think I should probably stay away from you and sleep on the couch instead.”
“The couch…?” Catra stares at Adora nodding for a moment before shrugging, “Whatever, I’m fucking starving princess.”
Adora smiles and gestures to the door, “Come on, then. It’s getting cold.”
Catra sits back after consuming the most she’s eaten in… ever.
Adora stares at her, a smile on her face as she watches the magicat sated across from her.
“So…” Catra starts and then raises an eyebrow, “No cake?”
“You want cake?” Adora mimics the expression back at the magicat.
“Well, as long as it’s a fucking gay cake made by you, princess.” Catra grins back tiredly, “I could fit it in.”
“Well.” Adora starts, “You might be in luck.”
“I might be?”
“You already know.” Adora deadpans, “You’ve already been through my kitchen and no doubt my fridge.”
“I have.” Catra admits with a small smile.
“So…” Adora sniffles a little and takes the tissue Catra hands over to her, “Thank you.”
“You were saying?” Catra leans forward, resting her head on her hand, elbow on the table as she waits for Adora to continue.
“So.” Adora starts again, “So you know where to get it. The cake, I mean.”
“From your fridge.”
“From my fridge.”
“Maybe I’ll have some later then.” Catra replies, her eyes starting to droop again, “Probably when I’m not going to die from suffocating after face planting in it.”
Adora laughs at that musing, “You still look like shit, Cat. Go back to bed.”
“I don’t feel too bad though.” Catra replies with tired eyes, “Think I can probably get back to work soon. I’ll give Arrows a call and let him know I can work tomorrow.”
“No.” Adora says simply yet sternly.
“I’m fine, Adora.” Catra pleads her case, standing up on her own, “See. I’m in the best shape of my life.”
“Yeah?” Adora says shaking her head in disbelief.
“Yeah. Feeling great. Fit as a fiddle.” Catra drawls though her words come out more tiredly than she would have liked, “Don’t let my voice fool you…”
“Uh huh.” Adora stands up and walks to the far side, “Prove it.”
“What more do you want from me?” Catra asks as she stands there staring at Adora, her muscles now starting to scream at her again to rest as she fights her body with her mind, “I’m standing, aren’t I?”
“That’s a good start.” Adora says with another sniffle, “Walk over to me without swaying or losing your balance and I will call Bow myself if that’s the case.”
Catra narrows her eyes at Adora before grunting out, “Fine.”
Adora smirks, waiting for the magicat to fail and probably fall into her arms, not that that would be a bad thing. She’s surprised by how determined Catra is to prove her wrong as she watches the magicat straighten up, taking in a deep breath before walking over to her without any missteps.
“Call Arrows.” Catra says when she gets to Adora, standing right in front of the blonde, “I passed your stupid test.”
“No.” Adora repeats again, “You’re straining.”
“I passed your stupid test.” Catra replies, this time straining slightly as she feels the sag in her body wanting to pull her down, “Call Arrows and tell him I’m good to work again.”
Adora stares into Catra’s intense looking eyes, this time trying a different tact, “Maybe you’ll be alright to go back to work but…”
“But what, princess?” Catra replies gritting her teeth a little to stop herself from loosing her footing in front of Adora.
Biting her bottom lip, Adora’s breath hitches from how close Catra is to her, her train of thought going off track slightly as she focusses again, the blush creeps onto her face when she does her best puppy dog eyes at the magicat, hoping that it’ll work when she says, “But who will look after me while I’m still sick?”
“Really, Adora?” Catra drawls, “Put those eyes away…”
“Why?” Another pout.
“It’s not going to work.” Catra turns away and then glances back to see the same look, “Ugh, stop it!”
“No. I’m still sick.” Adora pouts more, jutting her bottom lip out dramatically, she hugs herself when she thinks about really why she wants Catra’s company for a little while longer and then says, “I don’t want to be alone. I’m always alone when I’m sick. And… I’m sick of it.”
Catra stares at Adora for a little while longer, contemplating what to say. Eventually she settles on, “Okay. Hold off on calling Arrows.”
“Yeah?” Adora’s voice perks up again.
“Yes.” Catra nods, the movement has her a little dizzy as she shakes it off, not making it much better before adding, “But I’m going to lie down.” Adora nods, looking to the couch and then gasps when Catra’s fingers wrap around her wrist, “You’re going to lie down with me. In your bed.”
“I am?” Adora asks confused after their previous conversation.
“Yes.” Catra confirms, “And you’ll cuddle into me like you have been doing because for some reason, it’s the only way I’ve been getting quality sleep.” The magicat pauses and looks at Adora, “Do we have a deal?”
“I don’t want to get you sick, Catra.” Adora tries to reason.
“You won’t get me sick.” Catra replies, “Our bodies are made differently.”
“Are you sure?” Adora asks again.
“Yes.” Catra rolls her eyes and her body feels the exhaustion creeping up faster than she’d like, “I’m going to go crash into your bed now.”
“Uh… woah!” Adora quickly reaches out before Catra looses her footing, “You are in no state to go back to work just yet.”
Adora quickly helps Catra back into her bed, tucking her in before climbing in herself, foregoing washing up the dishes for now as she cuddles up to the magicat. Catra smirks back tiredly, “Mm…”
“Better?” Adora whispers and Catra nods.
“Forgot to tell you…” Catra says slowly as she exhales out.
“Tell me what?” Adora asks.
As Catra closes her eyes, “Prime is getting investigated for Mrs Boots death.”