Catradora. New Life

Comforting Arms

Trigger warning: Abuse/discussing conversion therapy.

Catra's POV

"Is tonight on the table?" I asked as calmly as I could.

Adora looked at me shocked.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, I just don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep much tonight, and...I would just feel better if you were next to me." I continued to explain.

"Of course, I just said you are welcome to any time."

I couldn't help but smile.

We walked back to Adora's room and sat on her bed. We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes until she broke it, asking a question that while I was hoping we would avoid, I knew I should explain to her.

"If you don't mind me asking, what did you mean when you said Prime would give you "treatments"?"

I could feel the tears breaking loose from the bottoms of my eyelids. Adora seemed to notice them as well. She pulled me into a hug, my head resting on her chest.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I know it can't be easy."

"I want to tell you, just give me a sec" I chuckled a little, trying to regain my composure.

"Not sure if you've noticed yet considering how oblivious you are, but I'm gay" I teased. "And Prime, he isn't exactly the biggest fan of my kind. Whenever he found out I liked someone he would make me either watch those stupid church camp videos, but sometimes he...when he found out I was with Sparkles... he found this old machine...I think they used it in old school mental hospitals... he would hook me up to it... and he would...s-shoc-ck me."

I continued to cry into Adora's chest. Her arms still wrapped around me. I took a few more deep breaths and continued.

"For a few days after the t-treatments I could hardly remember my own name. Let alone Sparkles'. She thought I was ignoring her. I would come to school seeing her talking to Bow and get jealous and lash out at her. Go home crying over her, and then Prime would shock me again. He did it over and over again. I told Glimmer about the treatments. She felt terrible about it...But since she was still hanging out with Bow, I was still jealous...I still cried over her...I still got shocked. I eventually broke up with her. Shortly after Prime stopped the treatments. Glimmer and I stopped talking altogether so he was happy. He would do the treatments on Lonnie sometimes too. But it wasn't for her being gay, I don't think at least. She wouldn't tell me what it was for."

I felt a teardrop on my forehead. I looked up to see Adora silently crying.

"I'm so sorry you went through that" She squeezed me tighter.

"I'm never going to let you get hurt again" The desperation and hurt in her voice made me believe her.

I felt like with her I was truly safe. Secure in her muscular arms.

"Thank you, princess," I said, finally wrapping my arms around her and hugging her back with all the strength I had left.

"Any time, Kitten," Adora said

We lay down, not leaving each other's arms. She gently pulls the covers over us. I love sharing a bed with her. I hope I'm going to get the chance without crying for once.

"Goodnight, Adora," I said, my voice still shaky from the crying.

After a few moments of her not responding I just assume she had fallen asleep already. So I lean into her and that familiar rumble comes from my chest. I'm safe. I close my eyes. I begin to drift to sleep.

Adora's POV.

Hearing Catra's shaky voice as she told me of the torture she went through, I couldn't help but begin to cry. How could someone do that to their own child? I thought she had escaped the abuse when she was adopted because she wasn't near Shadow Weaver anymore. But no, she was in a whole new world of pain. She was being forced to deny who she was or be shocked into submission. A wedge was driven between her and Glimmer not because they didn't care about each other, but because they had no choice.

"I'm so sorry you went through that," I said, I pulled her in as tight as I could.

"I'm never going to let you get hurt again," I said to her. I can't let anyone hurt her like that, or in any way, ever again.

She finally hugged me back, clinging her arms around my waist.

"Thank you, princess," she said

She wasn't looking up at me anymore, but I couldn't help but smile.

"Any time, Kitten"

We begin to lay down. I refuse to let her leave my arms, she doesn't seem to want to either. I pull the covers over us.

She looks so tired.

"Goodnight, Adora," She said.

I don't respond. I just keep admiring the sleepy girl. She's still beautiful.

She nuzzles as close as she possibly can and she falls asleep with a gentle purr.

I couldn't resist. I lean down and kiss her forehead.

"Goodnight, Catra". I close my eyes and fall asleep.