Baby steps

Are we out of the woods? Are we in the clear yet? | Next Fic | 1/4

"You're sure she's gonna be ok? Like... really sure?" Catra's tight hold on Adora's hand was probably hurting... but the blonde had yet to wake up, so Catra wasn't worried. The nurse gave a small shrug. She glanced around. "Listen. I've healed Adora more times than I can count," She began. "I helped her after the Battle of Brightmoon, I helped her during her pregnancy, during childbirth, during post-natal care, after she broke the sword, after she came home from Prime... when she had mastitis," The nurse listed. Catra cleared her throat softly. "I've never seen her this unresponsive, Catra. She's usually twitching or trying to fight me, even in sleep," The nurse continued. Catra snorted. "Ain't that the truth,"

The nurse chuckled. "I see where her daughter gets it from,"

Catra inhaled shakily. "Shit... her kid," She released Adora's cold hand and scrubbed her face. "Where is she? Violet?" The nurse asked. Catra sighed heavily. "With some woman in the woods... Adora trusts her," She added the afterthought more for herself than the nurse. The latter hummed dubiously. "Well... I'd bring her back as soon as. When Adora wakes, the first thing she's gonna want is her daughter. And she won't be happy if Violet isn't here," She warned. Catra's eyes trailed the woman as she left still wondering if Adora would be ok when she woke. Melog reckoned she would be, that she'd only exhausted her magic, and once she'd slept the worst of the depletion off, she'd be awake.

That'd been three days ago.
And she had yet to even move, let alone wake up.

Catra remained diligent by her side for another two days, barely leaving to clean herself (because she'd never use a bathtub - and she didn't understand how to use the shower) or eat. Sparkles and Arrows had left several times to try and locate the woman Adora called Razz, and Violet by extension, but were unsuccessful.

Catra idily wondered if Razz even knew the war was over. Not even Entrapta could track the mysterious woman down. Reassured that Adora probably wouldn't wake for several more hours, if not days, Catra decided to try and locate the crazy woman by herself. Sometimes all you needed was a good nose. Catra had always been able to sniff out magic, thanks to Shadow Bitch. She'd grown accustomed to the foul stench of the black garnet, compared to the overly sweet of Sparkles moonstone, compared to the forestry scent of Adora's magic. Catra roamed the woods for several hours, long after the moon had risen for the night before she gave up and trudged home.

Adora would just have to accept that Violet would stay with Razz until she was well enough to look for herself.

~

Catra stumbled over her feet when she opened Adora's door. "Hey Catra, you're just in time. She woke up about an hour ago," Sparkles was there too, running a damp cloth across the blonde's head. "She's not completely with it yet, but she's coherent enough," The Queen said. "I am too!" The blonde protested from her slouched position on the bed. Her glazed grey eyes slid over to Catra's. Adora extended her hand, grabbing at the air. "Hey, you," She smiled. Catra remained frozen still. Bow and Glimmer glanced back and forth. "Um... why don't- why don't we give you guys a minute, hm?" Glimmer dipped the cloth in water again, gently placing it onto Adora's head. "We'll try and track down some food for you, ok?" Adora whined. "No... no food," Her eyes slid to Catra's briefly before settling back onto Bow and Glimmer. "I feel too sick for food," She admitted. Catra narrowed her eyes.

Adora groaned lowly. Bow's hands fluttered by her shoulders. "My god, I'm tired," Catra knew that was bullshit, and she wasn't even properly paying attention. "Amalthea said that's to be expected. You're still healing, so don't try anything stupid while we're gone, ok?" Glimmer poked Adora's leg softly. The blonde weakly swatted at her hand. "Catra," The magicat glanced up, blinking as her brain tried to catch up with her surroundings. "Amalthea said to keep her hydrated and cool. The fever will try to break through. Try not to let it," Glimmer warned.

Woah, what fucking fever? Adora wasn't sick! She was exhausted!.. though the blonde had suffered from exhaustion-based sickness back in the Horde. Usually migraines and general rubbish-ness, but sicknesses nonetheless.

Catra found herself nodding anyway, desperate for the Queen and archer to leave. "Sure, whatever," Catra nonchalantly picked at her nails. "It's not like I've not looked after her sick ass before," She said. Glimmer opened her mouth to speak, but obviously thought the better of it. "Ok... we'll try and find some food and a healer," She said, disappearing with a pop.

Catra knew the crumbling of Adora's walls would happen imminently. When she was sick in the Horde, she'd tough it out until the overall shitiness of her feelings overtook the rational side of her brain. Catra remained by the door, waiting. Adora had always loved her comfort, but only when she asked for it. Catra, truthfully, had no idea if she was still the same. Adora began to sob into her hands, body shaking, shoulders quaking. She shifted in the bed, sitting more upright.

She cried out softly, her hand flying to her chest. Catra walked silently to the bed, perching at the end, waiting. Adora took a shaky breath in. She began to pull her shirt off, gasping quickly as her arms lifted higher and higher, stretching her chest and side. Catra felt sick as blood-stained bandages were revealed, splotchy across the entire covering, vaguely in one thick line. Why hadn't it healed yet?

Adora tried to pull the remainder of her shirt off, breathing heavily. Catra wasn't happy with the sheen of sweat on her head, or the slightly green pallor of skin. "Here... let me," She took over, gently pulling her girlfriend's arms through the shirt. Adora's head landed on her shoulder, the heat bringing beads of sweat. "Adora, we need to get the fever down. Sparkles'll kill me," She tried for a joke. Adora's breath huffed against her neck, but the blonde didn't try to sit.

Catra didn't move her, instead snaking her arms around Adora's back, cradling the blonde softly. "I was so worried you were gonna die," She mumbled into her undone hair. Adora breathed heavily into her neck. Catra knew she'd fallen asleep by one thing: the tension in her shoulders had immediately bled away. She didn't lower Adora back to the bed straight away.

Catra simply held her tightly, reassuring herself that Adora was alive, and not going anywhere anytime soon.