Executive Assistant

Catra’s idea of getting dressed for work was essentially wearing a formal-ish looking button up and a pair of loose chinos with her black scuffed up boots. At least she was wearing shoes, Adora muses. Her hair is still a mess and Adora really wants to fix it with her fingers…
“What?” Catra asks as she pops in a piece of fruit into her mouth, “Why do you keep staring at me like you want to fix something?”
Adora huffs, rolling her eyes, “Your hair is annoying me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry my dear EA.” Catra teases, “I didn’t realise my hair had the ability to do that.”
“Come here!” Adora grunts as she finger combs Catra’s hair so that it’s not sticking up all over the place like she got shocked with a taser, “That’s better.”
Catra stares at her with a look of bewilderment. She’s never had someone just do that before. “Uh, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Adora replies softly, feeling much calmer now that she didn’t have to look at the mess that was Catra’s hair, “I’m going to have to get you some product.” The grin on Catra’s face surprises the blonde, “What? What did I say?”
Catra leans in, “You sound like an EA already.”
As she leans out again, Adora scrunches her nose, “Whatever. You need it anyways. Also, do I need to take you out shopping?”
Catra looks at her clothes and then back at Adora with a confused look, “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
Raising an obvious eye at Catra’s clothes, Adora rolls her eyes before answering, “Look, I get you’re the CEO or whatever, but you can’t just roll out of bed, chuck on whatever smells the cleanest.” Adora raises her hand before Catra could interrupt, “And then expect to be taken seriously.”
“I don’t care what anyone thinks of me.” Catra declares. It’s true, “I don’t need to impress anyone.”
“No, you don’t.” Adora agrees, “But, it’d be nice if you put some effort in if I have to.”
Catra smiles at that as she looks over Adora’s attire, “Yeah, okay. I’ll, uh try a little harder.”
The blonde nods in her small victory as she moves a little closer to sniff at Catra, “Yep, you need to get these clothes washed. When was the last time you did laundry?”
“A while ago.” Catra replies with a shrug, “What? I’m saving water or whatever.” Adora sticks her tongue out, “Fine. I’ll wash my clothes too. Happy?” Another nod, “Pfft, you’re supposed to be managing my work stuff, not my personal stuff…”
“Well, I’m not going to work for you if you stink.” Adora teases, “Besides, if I have to spend my work day with you in close proximity, you should at least try a little harder to make me feel more comfortable.”
Catra sits back and thinks on that and then sighs, “Okay. Fine.” Before she leans in again so she’s close to Adora’s face, “Do I really smell that bad?”
Adora does an experimental sniff at Catra’s face, “No. You smell fine.”
Leaning back again, Catra smiles wide as she watches Adora finish her drink, “Are you done? We should probably head back.”
“Yeah, okay.” Adora replies as she places her glass back on the table.
Catra gets up and walks over to the counter to pay while Adora hurries after her. Once their bill is paid, they head back to the office arguing about who should have paid and how Adora doesn’t feel comfortable with Catra paying for her meal even though she ate less than the blonde. Catra just brushes her comments off with a mischievous grin.

As they reach the top floor of the office, Catra gets a phone call. She excuses herself to her office and shuts the door while Adora gets settled at the desk assigned to her. She peruses through the files that Catra gave her on the mole, making notes in her notebook as she waits for Catra to emerge from her office. Catra comes out of her office with the brightest smile on her face that Adora has ever seen.
“Why are you so happy?” Adora asks as she flicks over another page in the file.
“You’ll see.” Catra replies as she heads towards the elevator.
Adora stands and follows Catra, keeping herself a few steps behind as it seems that the CEO is waiting for someone in the elevator. The blonde watches as the elevator numbers flicker higher and higher on the counter and then stops when it gets to their floor. When the door opens, she’s met with the sight of a very beautiful blonde woman stepping out and straight into the awaiting arms of Catra.
“Wow! When did you even get here?” Catra asks with excitement.
“Surprise!” the other blonde wraps her arms around Catra’s shoulders tightly before pressing a soft kiss on the CEO’s lips, “You like?”
“Mm…” Catra grins, “Yes. Definitely.”
They stay holding each other for a moment longer until the other blonde notices Adora, “Oh, we have company…”
Catra looks around and sees Adora, “Oh, this is Adora.” She brings the blonde towards Adora and they shake hands, “Adora, this is Estelle, my girlfriend.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Adora.” Estelle greets warmly and before Adora can reply she turns back to Catra, “I thought you didn’t like other people in your space…”
Catra chuckles, “Adora’s my EA, she works here, so she kind of has to be here.”
“Oh, okay.” Estelle replies flatly and then looks back to Adora, “Has she been giving you any trouble?”
“Trouble?” Adora asks trying to stamp down whatever feeling is pulling in her gut currently at seeing Catra with her… girlfriend, “Uh, no. She’s been, uh, good?”
Estelle looks at Catra knowingly, “Babe! What happened to that menace that I met?”
“That menace had to grow up.” Catra replies with a roll of her eyes, “Besides, Scorp won’t let me get up to any shit nowadays anyways.”
“Uh huh.” Estelle says not believing that statement a bit, “So… I thought we’d get the afternoon to ourselves…”
“You know I can’t blow off work.” Catra sighs, “If you told me you were coming, I could have moved some things around.”
Adora seems confused, Catra doesn’t have any meetings or call outs for the rest of the day.
“Where are you staying?” Catra asks.
“I was planning on staying here with you, but you don’t seem to have time for me.” Estelle pouts.
“You know you can’t just show up and expect to stay here.” Catra sighs, “Entrapta would literally kill me if you stayed here without her knowing in advance. Not to mention all the questions I’d have to answer as to why my girlfriend is coming and going at all times of the day and night.”
“Can’t you just give me one of those swipe cards too?” Estelle looks at Catra with her best puppy dog eyes as Adora snorts back a laugh, trying to hide her amusement behind her hand which earns her a glare from the other blonde.
“You know I can’t do that.” Catra replies, “Just tell me where you’re staying.”
Estelle huffs, “I knew it!”
“What?”
“You don’t want me to be here with you!” Estelle is now almost shouting. Catra takes a step back, confused at how quickly this escalated, “I come all the way over here to surprise you and you can’t even give me the time of day!”
Adora tries to make herself as small as possible. She looks between the 2 quarrelling lovers and slinks back as far as she can in her chair.
“What do you want, Estelle?” Catra’s eyes narrow, “You don’t show up unannounced, ever. Not in the 6 years we’ve been together.”
“Unbelievable!” Estelle scoffs, “I try and do something spontaneous and all I get back is suspicions?”
Catra stands firm, waiting for the blonde to crack.
“Fine!” Estelle growls conceding her stance, “I need money. My business went under and the banks are going to take everything away from me.”
Catra sighs, shaking her head, “How much this time?”
“$125K.” Adora gasps upon hearing that number.
“What the fuck?!” Catra shouts, “How did you manage to fuck this business up so badly? You run an information stand for fucks sake.”
“It’s not my fault!” Estelle protests, stamping her foot down like a child, “Bex said it would be a sure thing…”
“Bex? Are you fucking kidding me right now!?” Catra runs her hand through her short hair in irritation, “I told you to stay away from her. How the hell did you get involved with her again?”
The awkward silence from Estelle was more than enough to elude to what had happened as Catra’s eyes widen in realisation, muttering under the breath, “For fucks sake…” before looking up at Estelle and then turning around and disappearing in her office.
“Babe!” Estelle tries to follow, but Adora steps out in front blocking her way in, “Excuse me! Move!”
Adora doesn’t budge as she creates a hard body barrier between Estelle and Catra’s office.
Catra’s office door opens as she holds a cheque in her hand, “Take it and get out. I don’t want to see you again, ever. And don’t even think about stepping foot in this building again or I’ll have Lonnie throw you out faster than you can say hello.”
Estelle’s eyes fill with tears, but she takes the cheque anyways and then silently makes her way to the elevator. Adora follows behind, making sure she gets in and that the lift goes all the way down to the lobby. She hears in the background, Catra talking to Lonnie on the phone to put Estelle on the no entry list moving forward. When Adora comes back around the corner, Catra’s office door is shut.
Adora knocks on the door. There’s no answer. She knocks again and then tries to open it, but it’s locked. She pulls out her swipe card and unlocks the door, slipping inside Catra’s office and closes the door behind her. Catra’s sitting on her couch with a drink in one hand and the bottle of the drink in her other.
“Drink?” Catra offers, “You’ll have to grab your own glass though. Or…” Catra sculls the liquid in her glass and then offers it to Adora, “You can take the glass. I’m okay with the bottle.”
Adora comes over and takes both the glass and bottle out of Catra’s hands, Catra doesn’t even protest, just slumps back into the couch with her eyes closed. Adora places the bottle and glass on Catra’s desk and then comes back over, sitting next to her.
“Are you okay?” This is definitely not how Adora had envisioned her first day back on the job to go, “That was… intense.”
Catra doesn’t say anything. Just breathing in and out loudly as she bounces her right leg up and down. Adora sits back against the couch, trying to get comfortable while still being able to face Catra.
Catra sighs, “6 years.”
“What?”
“We were together for 6 years.” Catra still has her eyes closed as her leg continues to bounce, “I should have fucking known.”
Adora stays silent. This is not anywhere in her range of expertise, and she rather just listen than give bad advice right now, instead she goes for a question, “What… what just happened?”
Catra chuckles sadly, “I just broke up with my girlfriend of 6 year because she was cheating on me.”
Despite Catra’s eyes being closed, Adora nods, “Why did you give her the money then?”
“I call it ‘fuck off’ money.” Catra replies as she feels Adora place her hand on Catra’s leg to stop it from bouncing, “I’m sorry you had to see that. And… thanks for before.”
“No problem.” Adora replies taking her hand back from Catra’s thigh, “Is there anything I can do?”
This time Catra opens her eyes and looks at Adora, a sad smile on her lips, “I think I’m just going to drink this one away.”
“You know that’s not healthy.” Adora scolds, “How about we go to the gym and you can spend some time on the punching bags?”
Catra laughs wetly, “If you want to beat me up, just say so.” Then under her breath she mutters, “I deserve it.”
Adora grabs Catra by the shoulders and pulls her into a tight hug. For some reason it doesn’t feel awkward or strange and Catra just lets the blonde hold her tight against her. Adora gasps when she feels Catra’s arms wrap around her waist and her face buries into the crook of Adora’s neck.
“Is this, okay?” Catra asks softly into Adora’s neck.
All Adora can do is nod as she tries to bring her heart rate back down to a normal human rhythm, but that’s proving hard with the way Catra is squeezing Adora in her arms. Catra sniffs once and then pulls back and stands up from the couch, heading to her desk where the booze is before bypassing it and reaching for her set of keys.
“Where are you going?” Adora asks from the couch.
“Huntara’s. Wanna come with?” Catra replies spinning the keys on her finger and a flat look on her face.
“That’s 2 hours away!” Adora raises her voice in concern, “I don’t think you should be going there.”
“That’s where I feel safest when I’m drunk.” Catra admits as she hugs herself a little, “So, it’s up to you if you want to come or not.”
Before Adora can come up with something reasonable, Catra’s grabbed her hoodie and started walking to the door. Adora gets up quickly from the couch and follows quickly.
“Catra!” Adora pleads, “You are not driving to the Crimson Waste in your state.”
“Fine.” Catra replies as she steps into the elevator, placing the keys in Adora’s hand, “You drive Swifty and get us there.”
The blonde isn’t sure if she should be happy that Catra kept the name or annoyed at the fact that she’ll probably have to drive 2 hours to the Crimson Waste so Catra can get drunk. Either way she’s not left with a lot of time when the elevator brings them down to the lobby in record time and Catra’s already out and walking to the parking garage, avoiding everyone’s looks and stares by throwing the hoodie on with the hood up. Lonnie just sends her an understanding look but doesn’t say anything. When Lonnie catches eye, the look is different. It’s more of a protective look and Adora gets it, all she can do is nod as she chases after Catra.
They get to Swifty and Catra stands at the passenger door waiting for Adora to open the doors. Adora puts the key in the door and then looks over to Catra, “Are you sure you want to do this? We can go somewhere else, somewhere closer…”
“No. It has to be Huntara’s.” Catra replies looking down at the car door, willing it to unlock itself, “If you don’t want to come, I’ll get there myself.”
Adora stares at Catra for a moment.
Catra scoffs, “Fine. I’m getting a ride from someone else then.” She starts to pull out her phone when Adora suddenly panics.
“No!” Adora voice just a little louder than what she meant it to be, “No. I’ll drive you.”
She opens the door and unlocks the passenger door once she’s inside and Catra slides in, slumping over in her seat. Adora sighs as she puts the key in the ignition and breathes out, adjusting her seat and the mirrors before she tries to put the car in reverse. Adora looks at the stick shift for a little too long and Catra looks up from her hands and stares at the blonde.
“What’s wrong?”
“I uh, I don’t know how to drive manual…?” Adora admits shyly, “I mean, I really do want to drive Swifty but I never actually learnt how to drive a manual…”
Catra stares at her before breaking out in a laugh, “Give me the keys Adora.”
“No way! You’ve already been drinking!” Adora protests as Catra tries to unbuckle her seatbelt.
“I’ve literally had one drink after a rather big brunch. I think I’m fine to drive.” Catra replies as she successfully unbuckles Adora’s seat belt before getting out of the car and walking around to the driver’s side, “Come on, out.”
Adora pouts, “I don’t think you should drive.”
“I’m fine, Adora!” Catra scoffs, “Come on, get out! Or climb over to the other side. Either way, fucking move!”
Adora huffs, rolling her eyes as she reluctantly climbs over to passenger seat and huffs again when Catra climbs into the driver’s seat. “I’m still not okay with this.”
“Duly noted.” Catra starts up the engine and tears out of the parking garage and straight onto the Crimson Waste.
“Catra! Slow Down!” Adora shouts as she holds on to the door as Catra drives roughly around the corners, “You’re going to kill us!”
“No, I’m not princess.” Catra replies as she slows down and the car smooths out, “Entrapta modded Swifty up as soon as she got her hands on it, safest car in the city by far.”
Still sweating, Adora glares angrily at Catra.
Catra glances over at Adora and then back to road feeling ashamed and embarrassed, “I’m sorry.” The words are spoken so soft that Adora barely catches them, “If you want I can drop you off somewhere. You don’t have to come with me.”
“Catra!” Adora’s voice dripping in frustration, “I told you I’m going with you.”
After a brief amount of silence that felt like hours, Catra finally says, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Adora replies now feeling a little more relaxed now that they are out of the city and on the highway to the Crimson Waste, “I’m… also sorry about… well, you know.”
“Estelle?” Catra asks without taking her eyes off the road, “Yeah, that was a train wreck waiting to happen.” Catra breathes out trying to calm herself but her hands grip the steering wheel hard, “Honestly, I should have seen it coming. I wasted so much time being with her. I don’t think she ever really wanted me for me.”
“Well, that’s her loss then, isn’t it.” Adora says with a shrug, “I still can’t believe you gave all that money.”
Catra laughs, “Won’t matter anyways. She’ll blow through that in a fortnight or less.”
“Won’t she come back then?”
Shaking her head, “No. I’ve barred her from DE. The core group…”
“You mean, Super Pal Trio!” Adora interrupts with a grin.
“Whatever, Scorp and Entrapta won’t let her back in.” Catra sighs, “And she’ll try to come back, definitely. I’ve already given Lonnie the heads up. There’s no ways she’s even going to get through the front doors without being detected.”
“Okay…” Adora doesn’t seem so convinced, “Won’t she want her stuff back, I’m assuming she’s got some stuff at your place?”
“Yeah, no.” Catra replies as her hands tighten around the steering wheel again, “She hardly came out here. I was the one who chased after her, so it was always fitting that I’d be the one to make the trek to see her.”
“Wait, were you doing long distance the whole time?” Adora looks shocked.
“Not the whole time.” Catra replies with a shake of her head, “I met her when I was travelling around trying to get our business off the ground. She was just so… yeah, and well, I was hooked, like instantly.” Catra’s eyes drain of joy quickly, “So, I chased after her and eventually she agreed to go out with me. It’s funny, she liked me more when I was dirt poor.”
Adora hums, not wanting to say anything that could come off as negative, “What changed?”
“I did, I guess.” Catra inhales through her nose, “I stopped getting into fights really. I think she just liked that someone was fighting for her, more than someone just wanting to be with her. She started hanging out with other people.”
“Bex?”
“Yeah, Bex.” Catra answers, “Loan shark, Bex. Real piece of work.” Catra shakes her head again, “Estelle started getting into gambling. Started off small but then well, you were there today. She doesn’t have a business anymore. Her business now is gambling. I tried to help her. But she refused to leave Bex. Fuck… I don’t even know when they started fucking. I’m such an idiot.” Catra groans.
Adora instinctively puts her hand on the back of the hand Catra has on the stick shifter, giving it a light squeeze but doesn’t remove it as Catra’s thumb rubs softly on Adora’s hand.
“Anyways…” Catra continues, “Her showing up today was pretty much the final straw. She would never come here unless she wanted something.”
“Money?”
“Money.” Catra echoes, “She’d never come to Bright Moon before, at all. Absolutely refused to even when I offered her a life on a silver platter. Well, I guess that’s what happens when you don’t really want to be with someone. Then again, maybe I was only really after the chase as well.”
“6 years is a long time, Catra.” Adora speaks up.
“6 years is a long time.” Catra agrees, “But, if I was to add up all the time we were actually together, I doubt it would even amount to more than 2 years. I guess I just liked the idea of having a girlfriend more than actually having one.” Catra looks over at Adora, “What about you? I’ve just told you all about my pathetic love life.”
“Uh, I don’t really have one.” Adora says, “I haven’t been in any long term relationships. I mean I’ve dated here and there but, yeah, I think the longest girlfriend, if you could call it that, was probably a few weeks. And I didn’t even know we were dating.”
Catra laughs, “Oh, princess. Well, the Crimson Waste is a great place to get wasted and get laid.” She turns to quickly glance at Adora, “Huntara seems to like you.”
Adora groans, “Oh, please! Do not go there!”
“I saw your reaction to meeting her.” Catra says without mirth, “You should totally go for it.”
Swallowing hard at that thought, Adora tries to pull her hand back but Catra holds her fingers firm in her hand, “I’m not interested in her. I don’t really do… casual.”
“You mean you don’t hook up?” Catra can see Adora blush in her peripheral and decides to put her out of her misery, “Relax princess. You don’t need to do anything you don’t want to do. I, however, am getting wasted.”
“You said you feel safest at Huntara’s, why’s that?” Adora questions as she thinks back to the bar that they are heading towards, “It’s not the safest place, the Crimson Waste.”
“For me it is.” Catra replies, “Hunt’s got my back. And yours. She makes me feel safe when I feel like shit.”
“Oh, okay.” Adora finally understands, “Positive role model, right?”
Catra grins at Adora before turning her gaze back to the road, “Right.”

Being a Tuesday night, Huntara’s bar is fairly quiet and filled with regulars.
“Catra… what the fuck are you doing here again? I didn’t touch the console, I swear.” Huntara shouts from behind the bar before she spots Adora with her, “Oh, hey blondie.”
Adora gives Huntara a small wave as she quickly looks away, following Catra towards the bar.
“Hey Hunt, can I get my regular? Start up a tab?” Catra takes a seat at the bar, patting the stool next to her for Adora to join her, “What do you want to drink?”
“I’ll just have a lemonade please.” Adora answers and Catra orders. Huntara places their drinks in front of them, “Thanks Hunt.” Catra holds her drink up in a cheers before she downs it in one shot.
“Okay, you are not doing shots all night.” Adora halts Huntara from pouring another shot, “You need to get some water in between or you’re going to feel like shit tomorrow.”
Huntara laughs out loud gruffly, “Hey kid, your EA is a hardass!”
“Shut up, Hunt!” Catra growls, “Get me that damn water and then fill this glass up.”
Huntara glares at Catra, “Do you remember what happened the last time you tried to order me around, kid?”
“I don’t fucking care!” Catra growls again, “Just let me get alcohol poisoning and let me die in my little corner. Please. Or what? You going to kick me out? You know where I’m headed next if you do that.”
Adora gets off her chair and wraps Catra up in her arms from behind, “Hey…”
Catra just grunts in response as Huntara pushes a glass of water Catra’s way.
“Take it easy, Catra.” Adora calmly says, “Drink.”
Reluctantly, Catra takes the glass of water Huntara is pushing towards her and gulps it down, “Happy?”
“A little.” Adora replies as she releases her hold on Catra and goes back to her seat and takes a sip of her lemonade, “What do you need?”
Catra shrugs as she just holds onto empty water glass.
“Okay.” Adora replies softly.
They sit in relative silence until Catra rests her head on her arms on top of the bar, turning her head so she can see Adora. “Thanks for coming with me.” Catra voice is hoarse, “I get if you want to quit for real this time.”
Adora shakes her head, “No. It’s fine. I guess EA’s would kind of be doing this?”
Catra rubs her face into her arms before looking back at Adora with a grin, “No, Adora. They wouldn’t be doing this at all.”
“Well, I guess I’ll be getting a pay rise then.” A lopsided smile appears on Adora’s face, “I mean, this would technically be outside the scope of work, right?”
The sound of Catra chuckling makes Adora feel better, “Right. Oh, by the way, what am I paying you?”
Adora shrugs, “It’s more than enough, not to mention I’m still getting paid by the firm for doing this assignment.” The blonde leans in and nudges Catra with her shoulder, “I think I’m worth every penny.”
Catra smiles back at Adora, “Yeah, you definitely are…” Catching herself saying that, Catra straightens up trying to joke, “Geez, princess. I can’t believe you’re double dipping!”
With a playful huff, Adora shoves Catra’s shoulder a little harder, nearly making the CEO fall off her chair before they are both play fighting and laughing loudly while the other patrons turn to look at them.
“I like your EA.” Huntara saunters back over as she crosses her arms in front of her chest and watches the pair of them continue to play fight, “Blondie seems to know how to handle you, kid.”
Catra pushes Adora off just enough so she can glare at Huntara, “Yeah, whatever.”
“Awe, you like me, don’t you?” Adora teases in her most annoying voice she can muster up.
“Shut up, princess!” Catra replies back without any bite, “Or I will fire you.”
“No, you won’t.” Adora smiles widely, “Because you like me.”
They both break out laughing again as Huntara rolls her eyes at the pair, “Hey, kid.”
Catra gives Huntara her attention, “Are you staying the night?”
Looking over at Adora, “Do you have 2 rooms available?”
“Yeah.” Huntara dips down under the bar and pulls out 2 sets of keys, “They’re next to each other.”
“Are we staying the night?” Adora looks over at Catra confused, “You didn’t say anything about staying overnight… I didn’t bring anything with me.”
“Well, what do you need?” Catra asks back.
“Uh, I don’t know… my toothbrush? Change of clothes.” Adora answers off the top of head, “Deodorant…”
Catra pulls out her phone and starts tapping away as Adora waits for an answer or something, “Okay, I can get you a toothbrush and deodorant, the change of clothes, well, I’ve got some old clothes around if you want them.” Before Adora can even say anything, Catra turns back to Huntara, “Is my stuff still around, somewhere?”
“Pfft, you’ve always got your shit everywhere, kid.” Huntara looks up from wiping the bar top, “What are you after?”
“My old clothes… you know the ones…” Catra’s voice getting quieter as if she’s embarrassed.
“You mean from your skater days?” Huntara doesn’t catch on, “Yeah, you’ve got a couple of boxes of your old stuff in the back.”
“Thanks.”
“Can I get rid of all that stuff now? Or are you planning to keep using that room for your storage?” Huntara puts both her hands on the bar.
“The latter.” Catra replies before she turns to Adora, “Well, since that’s all sorted…”
“Sorted? You haven’t even got me a toothbrush or anything yet.” Adora sighs, “Plus I want to see what clothes you have for me to change into.”
“Okay, fine.” Catra jumps off her stool and gestures for Adora to follow her, “Follow.”
Adora follows close behind Catra as the CEO pulls out a key and opens the back room, “Hang on… why do you have a key for this room?”
“Because this is where I used to sleep when I had too much to drink growing up.” Catra replies without looking back and slipping into the room, “Now… where is that light switch… ah, here.”
The light flicks on and Adora gets a good look at the room she’s just ventured in after Catra. There’s a couple of boxes in the corner and an old looking cot up against the wall, “You used to sleep here?”
Catra shrugs, “Yeah, well, sometimes it was better than going home.” She starts digging through one of the boxes before pulling out some clothes and throwing them at Adora, “Here, these should fit.”
Holding the articles of clothing up so she can get a good look at them, she puts them down and eyes Catra, “Really? This is what you’re going to give me to wear to work tomorrow?”
“Why? What’s wrong with it?” Catra genuinely seems confused, “I’ve worn similar into work before.”
Rolling her eyes, “Yes. But I’m not the CEO of the company.”
“What’s your point?”
Adora huffs, “My point it, I can’t wear this into work tomorrow?”
“Again… why not?” Catra takes a seat on the old cot.
“Because! I’m going to look so out of place!” Adora almost shouts trying to get her point across, “I can’t go into work looking like a just came out of a 90s teen movie.”
“So… you want…” Catra thinks a little, “a skirt and a shirt or something? Because I don’t have anything like that…” Adora sends Catra a pleading look, “Okay, fine. How about you use those clothes to sleep in and tomorrow we’ll stop by somewhere to get you some work clothes?”
“Or, you can just drop me off at home in the morning so I can shower and get changed when we get back.” Adora compromises, “I don’t need you to buy me things, Catra.”
Catra just nods, “Sure, whatever you want princess.”
“Actually…” Adora holds up the pair of baggy jeans Catra had thrown to her, “Do you have something else for me to wear to bed?”
“Uh, hang on.” Catra gets up and rifles through her box again before pulling out a pair of baggy sweatpants, tossing them over to Adora, “Will this do?”
Returning the jeans back to Catra, Adora inspects the sweats and then nods to Catra, “Yeah, this should be fine.”
“Great!” Catra shoves the jeans back into the box, “So, let's get me drunk to forget about today.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Adora sighs, “Babysitting a drunk wasn’t exactly on my job description.”
“I bet you didn’t even read the contract, did you?” Catra grins wickedly at Adora. And when Adora can’t seem to answer that question, Catra walks over to the door and opens it, “Come on, princess.”
Adora stands her ground, “I’ll come out with you, if you promise me, you won’t get too messy.”
“Yeah, fine. I promise.” Catra replies.
“No, I mean it Catra.” Adora puts her hands on her hips, “This has already been a hell of a first day for me, I don’t need more problems to deal with.”
Sighing, Catra nods, “Okay, I’ll cut it back a bit. Alright?”
Not really knowing how bad or what extent that meant, Adora agrees and they both head back out. Catra foregoes the bar this time and heads for an empty booth, sliding in and leaning against the side, her legs up on the bench with her shoes hanging off the end. Adora sits across from her, resting her hands on the table as Catra drums her fingers.
“Hungry?” Catra asks.
“Yeah.” Adora answers shyly, “The pasta I had last time was pretty good.”
Catra chuckles at the memory, “Fuck, I didn’t even eat that day… it smelt good though.” She gets up out of the booth, “Drink?”
“Water is fine.”
“Sure?”
“Yes, Catra. One of us should at least be sober tonight.” Adora replies firmly.
“Suit yourself.” Catra walks over to the bar to talk to Huntara about getting food and then returns with 2 drinks in her hand. Adora’s face lights up in surprise, “What?”
“What happened to drinking to forget about today?” Adora asks smugly, feeling victorious in her efforts to keep Catra sober-ish.
Shrugging, “Eh, some blonde girl is being very annoying about being responsible.”
Adora laughs at that, and they sit back and sip on their water.
“Can we chat about your… problem, at DE?” Adora leans forward, whispering.
“Which problem are we talking about?” Catra leans in and mirrors Adora mockingly, “The EA problem, my love life problem or the thing I’m paying you to do?”
“Ahem!” Huntara interrupts, “Do I want to know what that means?”
The red on Adora’s cheeks spreads down her neck so quickly it makes Catra laugh. Shaking her head as Huntara places their food in front of them, Catra replies, “It’s not what you think Hunt. I’m not paying her for anything… sexual.”
“Uh huh. Better not be. I don’t want that kind of thing in my bar.” Huntara eyes Adora.
Sputtering to answer, Catra laughs again, “She’s not getting paid to have sex with me.”
“I… I’m not!” Adora finally manages to say, “I’m just… just her EA.”
Not really believing her, Huntara places her hands on the table, right in front of Adora and leans in intimidatingly, “Better be just the EA. If you are sleeping with the kid here, it better mean something.”
Adora shrinks back into her seat, “I… It’s not, like that…”
“Hunt, back off, will you?” Catra taps the larger woman’s hand on the table, “She’s just keeping me company after I dumped Estelle.”
“Finally!” Huntara straightens back up again, “She was bad news. Didn’t I tell you she was bad news?”
Rolling her eyes at Huntara, Adora jumps in, “Yeah, Catra. Even I knew that!”
Adora quickly shrinks back down again when Huntara focusses back on the blonde again, “You kind of look like Estelle.” Adora looks away, she knows it just because Estelle was also blonde and had the same sort of figure as Adora.
“Hunt.” Catra warns. The larger woman backs off, “Would you please just leave her alone? Trust me, she’s not trying to sleep with me. Pretty sure I’ve already rubbed her up the wrong way more than once today.”
“Not physically…” Adora sputters out, “She hasn’t… uh, rubbed me…”
“Fucking hell, princess.” Catra snorts, “She knows what I meant.”
Turning even redder, Adora tries to make herself even smaller in her seat, Huntara and Catra both burst out laughing. Huntara gets a hold of herself and then shoots a glance over at Adora, “I’ve got my eye on you, blondie.”
“Knock it off, Hunt.” Catra lightly kicks at Huntara, the larger woman smirking back at Catra, “You were the one trying to get into her pants last week, remember?”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Huntara grins, “Yes.” She looks Adora up and down again, checking out the blonde blatantly, “But, if you also remember, I try to get into everyone’s pants.”
“Not mine.” Catra snorts again, “Thank fuck for that.”
“You were a kid, kid.” Huntara rolls her eyes, “And you’re still a kid in my eyes.”
“Fuck off, Hunt.” Catra grins to Adora, “Don’t fuck my EA, please.”
“Well, as long as you say please.” Huntara teases, “You better not either.”
“Hey! Don’t I get a say in any of this?” Adora blurts out as both Catra and Huntara both turn their gazes to her as Adora regrets saying anything at all.
“I’m confused.” Catra squints her eyes at Adora, “Are you saying you want to fuck Hunt, here?”
Huntara straightens up, preening with a smirk.
“No…” Adora replies softly, “But…”
“But what, blondie?” Huntara grins.
“Nothing…” Adora concedes, “This conversation is stupid, anyways.”
Catra bursts out laughing, “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?”
The mirth in Catra’s eyes, makes Adora feel relieved and she feels a smile tugging on her lips, “Yeah, it is.”
“Okay, I gotta get back to work.” Huntara goes to turn but quickly comes back and faces Catra, “I don’t want any trouble tonight, alright, kid?”
“What are you talking about…?” Catra looks over Huntara’s shoulder and sees someone from her past, “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“What?” Adora looks as well but has no idea what she’s looking at.
“What the fuck is Bex doing here?” Catra growls out.
“What did I just say, kid?” Huntara warns firmly, “I’m serious, if you start a fight in here or outside this bar, you can sleep in that car of yours tonight. And you’ll have to take blondie with you.”
“Well, that’s not fair! You can’t threaten Adora as well.” Catra whines as she glares over at Bex.
“Then, don’t get start any fights. Got it?” Huntara’s eyes burn into Catra as the Catra nods, eyes still fixed on Bex on the other side of the room, “Good. I’ll be back to refill your water later.”
“Bex?” Adora tries to figure out which one that is in the group in the corner, “Does that mean Estelle is here too?”
Catra shakes her head as she turns back to Adora, “No, she’s probably off gambling away all that money at the casino right about now.”
“Which one is Bex?” Adora eyes still looking over at the group when one of them looks over and winks at the blonde, “Shit…”
Not realising what had happened, Catra just looks over at the group again, “Bex is the one in the leather jacket. Blue hair. Mohawk.”
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Adora repeats as she looks at her food.
“What?” Catra looks back at Adora who’s cursing at their food, “You don’t like the food?”
“No…” Adora begins to answer when…
“Catra.” A husky voice comes up to the table. Catra turns her head and Bex and her group are standing right next to the booth, “Heard about you and Estelle.”
“Fuck you, Bex.” Catra seethes as her hands ball into fists on the table.
“Mm, no. I think I prefer fucking your girlfriend instead.” The smug tone in Bex’s voice as her friends laugh next to her, “Say, who’s your new friend?”
Adora shifts further back into the booth as Catra stands up from the booth, “Fuck. Off.”
“Hey!” Huntara’s voice booms over the room, “No fighting!”
Bex turns to Huntara, still smirking before looking back at Adora, “Don’t waste your time with a loser like Catra, babe. I can show you a better time.”
“No, thank you.” Adora politely refuses.
“Suit yourself.” Bex shrugs and then leans in trying to intimidate Catra, “I’ll see you around, huh?”
Feeling Huntara’s glare burning into the back of Catra’s head, Catra glares at Bex, “You can go now.”
“Whatever.” Bex replies as her group departs the bar.
“Oh, by the way.” Catra shouts to Bex who’s about to walk out the door, “You can have Estelle. Better get to her before she blows through the cheque I wrote her today when I dumped her ass.”
Bex smirks again not taking the bait as she opens the door and exits the bar.
“Are you okay?” Catra sits back down, leaning in on the booth towards Adora.
“Yeah…” Adora answers softly.
“Don’t worry about them. She talks big game but she’s a fucking coward. Preys on the weak.” Catra tries to comfort the blonde, “Come on, lets eat before our food gets even colder.”
Adora nods and they eat their dinner in silence.

“I think I need to get some air.” Catra announces as they both have their fill of food, “Want to join me?”
“Sure.” Adora wipes her mouth with the napkin and then finishes her water, “I could use some air too.”
“I’ve got a spare toothbrush in the car.” Catra tells the blonde, “You know, for emergencies.”
“Do you have a lot of emergencies?” Adora jokes as they stand up to walk to the door, “What else have you got in your car?”
“I’ll pop the boot and you can see for yourself.” Catra grins as they head outside for some air.
It’s chilly when they step out and Adora visibly shivers, Catra takes off her hoodie and offers it to Adora. With a grateful look in her eyes, Adora slowly takes the hoodie and puts it on. It’s baggy on Catra, so it fits comfortably on Adora.
“Thanks.” Adora hugs herself to keep warm as Catra just nods as she stares up at the stars.
“Beautiful.” Catra softly says as she looks up.
Adora tilts her head and looks up as well, humming a response.
The calmness of the night and the chill in the air makes Catra feel a lot better about coming out to the Crimson Waste tonight, despite not getting drunk to get over the day. Having Adora next to her, was just icing on the cake in her opinion.
That serenity of the night is broken when Bex and her group of friends round the corner, laughing and carrying on when they notice the pair standing outside, Adora wearing Catra’s hoodie.
“Well, well, well.” Bex struts over towards them, “What do we have here?”
Catra rolls her eyes and shoves her hands into her pant pockets, “Fuck off, Bex.”
Ignoring Catra, Bex keeps on walking towards her, “Nah, I don’t think I will.” She eyes the hoodie Adora is wearing, “Hm, and I thought you’d be heartbroken.”
“She’s been cheating on me.” Catra deadpans, “With you of all people.” Catra scoffs after that second sentence.
“Not my fault you couldn’t satisfy her needs.” Bex goads before turning to Adora, “I can satisfy your needs, baby.”
“No.” Adora simply says as she crosses her arms.
“What the fuck do you want Bex?” Catra growls.
“Your ex-girl owes me money.” Bex casual mentions, “Owes me big time. And no. Me fucking Estelle is not payment enough.”
“What has that got to do with me, exactly?” Catra grits out, “Go get the money off her if you want it so bad.”
“Well, since you were together…” Bex starts.
“Stop right there.” Catra puts her hand up, “I’m not paying off her debts. I’m not responsible for her. Not anymore.”
“Sad.” Bex mockingly juts her lip out, “Maybe you should. I’ll leave her alone if you give me payment.”
Catra wasn’t stupid and she wasn’t going to pay off Estelle’s loans but she asks anyways, “How much does she owe you?”
Looking down at her nails, Bex replies, “She’s 20K in the hole.”
Catra whistles to the sound of that number, “Well, that’s too bad, isn’t it?” Catra smirks, “You’re the one that was fucking her too, so I’m surprised you even gave her that much money knowing her history.”
“True. But she’s not here right now… and I want my money.” Bex and her friends circle Catra and Adora, “So, give me it now or we’ll beat it out of you and take it.”
Catra glances over at Adora who looks like she’s getting ready for a fight by the way her body moves to a defensive stance before Catra just outright laughs at Bex’s proposal.
“Like I said before, Bex. Get it from Estelle and fuck right off.” Catra steps a little closer to Adora, “I’m not starting a fight with you.”
“Have it your way.” Bex gestures to one of her friends and they throw a punch in Catra’s direction, “I guess we’ll just beat it out of you.”
Catra grunts as she avoids the onslaught of punches from Bex’s friends while Adora pushes and shoves the ones trying to get cowardly punches on Catra’s back, away. She doesn’t throw any punches at all, just shoving them out of the way as Catra avoids the flurry of fists, laughing.
“Man, if I knew I was going to have a good time tonight, I would have brought my hand wraps.” Catra laughs as she throws on of Bex’s friends over her shoulder.
Bex raises her hand and calls off her friends, “How about this, one on one? You and me? Right now?”
“Right now?” Catra raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, if I win, you pay up double.” Bex proposes.
“And what if I win?” Catra replies shaking out her arms, “What’s in it for me?”
Snapping her fingers, one of Bex’s friends hands her a file, “I give you this and the debt is paid.”
“And… what the fuck is that supposed to be?” Catra eyes the file.
“A little info on that mole of yours.” Bex smirks.
“How do you know about that? Do you have a name?” Catra asks, still eying the file.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Bex goads, “So, do we have a deal?”
“Ugh, fine.” Catra concedes, “How do you want to do this?”
“Right now.” Bex replies shrugging off her jacket, “One of us is leaving tonight conscious.”
“Right.” Catra nods with a sigh.
“Catra, no. Remember what Huntara said?” Adora tries to get Catra to back down, “I don’t want to sleep in your car tonight.”
“She never said that I can’t defend myself.” Catra replies, “Besides I’m not the one starting the fight, am I?”
“I don’t think that loophole is going to work with her…” Adora tells her with pleading eyes.
“It’ll be fine, Adora.” Catra sends her a reassuring look, “And if she does kick us out tonight, I’ll find us another place.” Catra softens up a little, “Trust me.”
Reluctantly Adora nods.
“So, we got a deal?” Bex asks again, limbering up.
“Yeah, fine. Whatever. Deal.” Catra replies, “Verbal handshake or whatever, I’m not touching your grubby hand.”
Bex laughs and nods, “Whatever you want. Let’s do this!”
Stepping further away from the front of the bar they find enough room in the car park and square off. There’s barely enough light and the air is getting chillier. Bex starts dancing around Catra, moving back and forth as Catra just stays still, keeping her eye on her opponent. With a smirk, Bex comes forward, launching an assault of punches towards Catra, swinging wildly with both arms, fists flying everywhere in very amateurish moves. Catra blocks the punches, stepping back and to the sides, giving herself more room.
“Fight me!” Bex shouts as Catra yawns in reply.
Bex charges at Catra, Catra steps out of the way as Bex barrels into one of her friends, knocking them both over. Bex gets up, rather quickly, pushing herself roughly off her friend that is groaning on the ground and the makes for another charge at Catra. Catra drops her shoulder and Bex goes flying over the top and flipping onto the ground on her back. Grunting in frustration, Bex gets back up and stomps back towards Catra, throwing more punches as Catra blocks again, finding an opening and elbowing Bex in the gut before shoving her back onto her ass.
“Get her!” Bex shouts as her friends come from behind, one grabs Catra from behind in a bear hug while the other 2 start throwing punches at her face and body. Adora rushes forward to help Catra only to be tripped up by Bex grabbing her leg causing the blonde to fall to the ground, face first.
Upon seeing Adora on the ground, Catra growls and kicks off the 2 attackers, before sinking her teeth into the arms of whoever has her in a bear hug, causing them to drop her to the ground. Catra rushes over to Bex, tackling Bex back down to the ground and throwing punch after punch at her face until Bex is raising her arms up in surrender. Her friends groaning around them in pain.
“Are we done?” Catra growls down at Bex’s bruised and bloody face.
Through bloody teeth, Bex manages to grunt out, “Yes…”
“Good.” Catra turns her attention to Bex’s friends, “Take her and get the fuck out of CW. Now!”
Bex’s friends scramble to pick up their leader, dropping the file at Catra’s feet and promptly jumping into their car, speeding off into the night.
Catra picks up the file and walks over to Adora, offering the blonde a hand, “Are you okay, princess?”
“Yeah.” Adora replies as she takes Catra’s hand to get back to her feet, “What about you?” She reaches out to Catra’s bruised cheek, “That doesn’t look good.”
“Yeah, doesn’t feel too good either.” Catra admits.
“Come on, we can get you cleaned up inside.” Catra groans at having to face Huntara, but she allows Adora to lead her back inside.
“For fucks sake, kid!” Huntara yells at Catra when they come back in, “What did I say about fighting?”
“It wasn’t her fault.” Adora defends, “Bex started it. She was just defending herself.”
Looking down at Catra’s bloody hands, “Yeah? Then why are your fists so bloody?”
“Fuck.” Catra curses under her breath before clearing her throat, “It’s fine. I’ll just go sleep in my car tonight. Just let Adora sleep in her room, please.”
Huntara sighs, “You are still a fucking menace, you know that right?”
Catra looks up at Huntara’s grin as the larger woman shakes her head, “Yeah, I know.”
“Go get cleaned up.” Huntara orders handing Adora a first aid kit, “And go to bed. No funny business, you got it?”
“Thanks Hunt.” Catra ducks her head in shame as Adora leads her past and into the bathroom to get cleaned up.

Catra hisses as Adora cleans the cuts on Catra’s face.
“Shush, you big baby.” Adora scolds as Catra hisses and winces in pain, flinching at every touch with the antiseptic.
“What? That fucking hurts.” Catra complains as Adora rolls her eyes, but continues to attend to her injuries.
“Uh huh.” Adora replies unsympathetically, “Brawler, huh?”
Catra looks up and grimaces, “Yeah?”
“Bullshit.” Adora replies flatly, “You played me the other day when we sparred.”
“What are you on about?” Catra protests as she winces again as Adora dabs her cheek again, “You won fair and square.”
“I want a rematch.” Adora says with a grin.
Catra sighs, looking at the file sitting on top of the sink, “Fine.”