Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

     It was Brightmoon High’s annual senior trip to New York City, and Adora could not have been more excited. Her strict ponytail swung as she rocked back and forth on her toes, gripping the straps of her backpack, while they waited to board the school bus. It was six AM, but Adora hardly noticed. Next to her, her best friend Catra rolled her eyes. 

     “Do you have to be so...you right now?” Catra asked, tugging down on Adora’s letterman jacket to bring her back down to her feet. Adora laughed, and Catra couldn’t help but soften her expression. 

     “Sorry,” Adora said, grinning. “I’m just so excited!” She put her hand on Catra’s shoulder and Catra felt her whole body tense. She looked up to see if Adora had noticed, but Adora was already rambling with anticipation. “Catra, you’ve never even been to New York, you have no idea how much you’re gonna love it!” Catra smiled, and Adora smiled back. Nobody besides Adora really cared whether Catra was happy. She wouldn’t have even bothered going on the trip if Adora didn’t want her around. 

     At the front of the bus, their teacher, Ms. Weaver, clapped for their attention. Adora whipped around, and Catra felt herself strangely missing the eye contact. “Students, we’re going to start boarding the bus. See me on your way up for seating assignments.” 

     “Seating assignments?!” Adora pouted. “Damn, I really wanted to sit with you.” “Yeah, me too,” Catra groaned, shouldering her duffel bag. “Especially since literally no one else here likes me.” “Hey, what’s not to like!” Adora punched her on the shoulder as they moved up in the line. 

     “Adora, you’re with Kyle. Catra, you’ll be with Lonnie.” Ms. Weaver checked their names off on her list and motioned for them to get on the bus. ”Great,” Catra hissed into Adora’s ear. “Lonnie totally hates me.” Adora scoffed. “She does not!” Catra stepped onto the bus, facing back at her friend. “Easy for you to say, I’d rather be with Kyle!” 

     “I heard that,” Lonnie said from the first row. She slid her bag over without looking up. “Adora, tell your friend she should watch her mouth or I’ll give her a reason to want to be with Kyle.” Adora laughed nervously as she took the seat across from them. “Listen, once we get going we can switch, okay? I’m sure Ms. Weaver won’t even notice.” Next to her, Kyle was slumped against the window with a blanket covering his head. “Uh, and I’m sure Kyle won’t notice either.” 

     After the bus got moving, Adora motioned for Catra to get up. She did, but Lonnie didn’t move. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Lonnie said sarcastically, eyeing the two of them with annoyance. “Did you have something to ask me?” 

     “I swear I’m gonna-” Catra started, but Adora grabbed her wrist. “Lonnie, would you please switch with me?” Adora asked patiently. She stood up and checked to make sure their teacher hadn’t noticed them. “I don’t think I can take another minute of Kyle’s snoring.” Lonnie laughed dryly and picked up her bag. “Fine, but you owe me one.” Catra let Lonnie slide past her, then sat back down and huddled against the window. 

     “I hate how nice you are sometimes,” Catra complained, although she felt guilty as soon as she said it. “Don’t be silly!” Adora said, and Catra could hear her smiling. “You know you love me. Just don’t let this stupid seat thing ruin your trip, okay? We’re gonna have fun!” Catra turned to face her friend, who was all but glowing with excitement. “Fine, I will have fun, but just to make you happy,” Catra teased, hoping it made up for what she had said before. “I can tell you really want me to have fun, so none of this will be for my own benefit, got it?” “That’s my girl!” Adora beamed, and Catra couldn’t help but smile too. 

     After about an hour on the bus, Adora’s initial giddiness had worn off and she realized how exhausted she was. It was pretty early after all, and she had barely been able to sleep thinking about spending all day in the city with Catra. She leaned her head on Catra’s shoulder, and felt Catra gasp quietly. “Oh, sorry,” Adora straightened again, her eyes closing slowly. “No, it’s okay,” Catra said, gentler than her usual biting tone. She took Adora’s bag from her lap and placed it on the floor in front of them. “Just relax, I’ll wake you up if we hit a rest stop or anything.” 

     “Uh, okay,” Adora yawned and settled back into her place on her friend’s shoulder. “You’re sweet, ‘tra” 

     Catra laughed quietly, crossing her arms to keep herself steady for an already fading Adora. “Don’t worry about it, I know you never sleep.” 

     “Adora, hey, Adora wake up.” 

     Adora blinked herself awake, realizing suddenly she was hugging Catra’s arm with both of hers. She pulled away quickly, not wanting her friend to see how red her face was turning. “Wow, I didn’t realize I was really going to fall asleep like that.” She rubbed her eyes and finally allowed herself to look at Catra again. ”Where are we?” 

     “Just some rest stop, we’re still like three hours away.” Catra stretched her arms then reached down into her bag to find her wallet. “I’m gonna go buy some snacks, you wanna come?” 

     “Definitely, I think I need to buy a coffee or splash some water on my face or something.” She reached for her bag, but Catra put her arm out to stop her. 

     “C’mon, I’ll buy you something,” Catra placed her hand on Adora’s shoulder, nodding towards the doors of the bus. “I owe you for taking care of that seat situation.” 

     “It’s like I’m seeing a whole new Catra today!” Adora exclaimed, getting up and heading for the door. 

     The rest stop was seriously crowded, and the girls could hardly get two steps in without losing each other. “Listen, I’m gonna hold your hand, okay?” Adora told Catra over the sounds of people rushing past them. “Don’t freak out or anything.” 

     “Why would I freak out?” Catra asked, wondering how well she was hiding the fact that her breathing had quickened. 

     “I just don’t want to get lost, it’s so busy in here.” Adora slid her hand into Catra’s and began walking hastily towards a little convenience store. Catra allowed herself to be pulled along, making their way through the crowd until they reached the entrance of the shop. They entered, and the sounds of the people outside quieted. They paused for a moment, hand in hand, neither wanting to let go first. After a moment, Catra pulled away, suddenly cold with the thought that someone from school could see them. She moved quickly towards a drink cooler, not wanting to see whether Adora looked disappointed or relieved. Adora followed just a few steps behind her. 

     “Here, ice coffee, is that good?” Catra asked, pulling a sleek bottle labeled Vanilla Latte from the freezer shelf. 

     “Perfect, thank you,” Adora smiled with her hands in her pockets. “What kind of snacks are you getting?” 

     “Adora, please, I thought we were best friends!” Catra teased, turning on heel with the coffee in one hand and her wallet in the other.
“Right, candy, obviously,” Adora laughed and followed Catra to another shelf. “What was I thinking?” As long as she had known Catra, the girl never passed up an opportunity to buy a bag of candy. It actually made it pretty easy to turn around her mood on a bad day - all Adora had to do was spend two dollars at the drug store on a pack of Sour Patch Kids and Catra was more than happy to see her.

     Catra had already chosen three packs of candy by the time Adora arrived. “You want anything else?” she asked, then quickly added “no wait, let me guess.” She traveled back towards the front of the store, grabbing a bag of pretzels and a pack of gum on her way to the counter. 

     “God, it’s almost like you’ve known me my whole life or something,” Adora smirked, though she was secretly touched Catra could read her mind like that. 

     Back on the bus, the two took their seat and Adora went straight for her ice coffee, determined not to embarrass herself by passing out a second time. She took one sip and cringed. 

     “What’s wrong?” Catra asked, tearing into a package of gummy worms. “The flavor’s no good?” 

     “No, it’s just…” Adora laughed and shook her head. “I just remembered I hate coffee.” 

     “What? Why would you ask for it then?” 

     “I don’t wanna fall asleep and leave you bored again!” She closed her eyes and took another sip, then shook her shoulders quickly as if trying to shake off the taste. 

     “I wasn’t bored!” Catra insisted, and Adora raised an eyebrow. “Seriously! I was, like, looking out the window…” She hoped she didn’t sound absolutely desperate  to have her best friend sleep on her shoulder for another hour. 

     Adora knocked back two more sips of coffee and swiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Seriously, I’m sorry, and I’m totally completely awake now,” she yawned. “Okay mostly awake!” 

     “Listen, I’m kind of feeling tired too,” Catra said. “You wanna both sleep for a little while? I can set a timer for an hour.” Adora’s face relaxed a little. 

     “Yeah, actually, I’d really like that,” she smiled. “You wanna listen to music?” Without waiting for a reply she reached into her bag and tugged out a pair of headphones, plugged them into her phone, and passed one to Catra. 

     “Thanks,” Catra put the headphone in her ear, then quickly added “just don’t play anything dumb, okay?” 

     “No promises,” Adora put her headphone in and settled back onto Catra’s shoulder like she had before, feeling suddenly more aware of the people around them. She shuffled her favorite playlist, hoping Catra wouldn’t find it too uncool, and allowed herself to drift off on her friend’s shoulder - despite her earlier proclamation to never do so again. Catra leaned her head onto Adora’s. She wasn’t tired in the slightest, and she hadn’t bothered setting an alarm, but Adora didn’t need to know that. She smiled  and focused on Adora’s playlist through their shared earbuds. She actually really liked Adora’s taste in music, but Adora didn’t need to know that, either. 

Chapter Text

        Adora woke with a start as she felt herself lurch forward, then be pushed back against the seat. She looked over and realized that Catra’s arm was across her chest in an attempt to stop her from flying out of the seat. 

        “You could have really hit your head there, A!” Catra laughed, slowly pulling her arm back. “You would have totally missed New York!” 

        “I would have missed…oh my God how did you let me sleep so long!?” Adora leaned over Catra to take in the city through the foggy glass window. Catra pretended she didn’t notice Adora’s hand gripping her thigh. 

        Ms. Weaver spoke up from the back of the bus. “Students, you’re going to have an hour to settle into the hotel before we go sight-seeing as a group. See me for your room assignments, and yes, they are different than your seat assignments.” 

        Catra groaned. “Ugh, Ms. Weaver and her assignments. ” 

        “Hey, Catra?” Adora stood up and shouldered her bag, looking down at Catra with fake concern. “Catra, you know we’re going to be rooming together, right? Like, you know I’m not willing to room with someone who isn’t my best friend Catra, right?” 

        Catra smirked. “Adora, you are truly above the law.” She grabbed her bag and the two of them headed off the bus. Adora headed straight to their teacher, who was pairing people off and sending them into the lobby. 

        “Ms. Weaver, I have a question about the room assignments,” Adora gave her best polite smile as she leaned forward to see if she could read the list. Ms. Weaver pulled her clipboard out of Adora’s sight. 

        “Adora, you’re rooming with Catra. You girls will be in room 202. There will be no switching.” She gestured towards the glass doors to the lobby. 

        Adora waved Catra over and started towards the doors. “We’re assigned to room together, I guess it was meant to be!” 

        “Meant to be, huh?” Catra laughed. “Thank goodness, I’m pretty sure Lonnie would be plotting ways to suffocate me in my sleep by now...” 

        In the hotel, Adora marched right up to the front desk and announced, “Room 202, please!” The attendant typed something into the computer, then furrowed his brow. 

        “Looks like the power’s out in 202, I’m going to place you ladies in 203 instead,” he handed them each a key card. “Go on up, I’ll have someone let your chaperone know.” They thanked him and made their way to the crowded elevator. 

        “It just figures the two of you are rooming together,” Lonnie snarked as she pressed the button for the second floor. “I’m with Scorpia, she can be intense, but at least I know she won’t sleep all over me.” Scorpia, who was behind her, gave a shy smile. 

        “Shut up!” Catra snapped, and Adora turned red. “Besides, I’m pretty sure they aren’t making us share beds…” 

        The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Everyone headed to one side of the hallway - the side with even numbers - except for Catra and Adora. 

        “I guess there were no even side rooms left…” Adora waved her key in front of the electric handle, opening the door as she watched her classmates all do the same on the opposite side. The girls stepped into the room, and something immediately caught their eyes. 

        “Oh my God, they forgot to remove the minibar…” Catra laughed as she dropped her bag and went to inspect the mini fridge under the television. “They didn’t realize school trip kids were gonna use this room, and they forgot to take out the minibar...” 

        “You wanna get drunk tonight?” Adora asked casually, and Catra’s eyes widened. “What? Football season’s over, no one knows we have this, and no one is here to stop us. Let’s just do it!” 

        “Who are you and what have you done with Adora?” Catra teased, feeling complete disbelief that her straight-A-star-quarterback best friend would ever even think of drinking at a school event. Before she could give a real answer, Adora noticed another unique aspect of their room. 

        “Um, Catra?” Catra turned around to see Adora placing her bag on the bed. The bed. “It seems they’ve given us a single-person room.” 

        “Oh, no,” Catra closed the mini fridge and walked to sit on the edge of the room’s only bed. “Should we tell someone we need a new room?” 

        “I don’t know,” Adora frowned. “Is it worth it? I mean, what’s sharing a bed, we’ve been friends for years. When's the next time you and I are gonna be alone in a room with a bunch of alcohol we don't have to pay for?” You and I alone rang in Catra’s ears . Who knew if she’d ever get a chance like this again. 

        “Alright, let’s stay! What the hell, this might be my only opportunity to witness you wasted, and that is something I’d like to see!” She placed her bag on the side of the bed close to the window and began unpacking her things into the nightstand. “Besides, if things get too tight, I’ll just sleep at the end of the bed.” 

        “Yeah, right, I’m not that bad of a sleeper, am I?” 

              “Only time will tell!” Catra felt her stomach flip at the thought of sleeping next to Adora for a whole week. They had slept over each other’s houses many times, but camping-style sleeping bags had become a tradition, so they’d never actually shared one bed. She knelt to place clothes in the bottom drawer, hoping to avoid Adora seeing how shaky she was. 

        “We just can’t let anyone find out, okay?” Despite the fact that Adora had been the one to suggest it, she wasn’t the best at rebelling. “It’ll just be our secret.” Catra laughed, and Adora thought she almost sounded nervous. 

        “Adora, I wouldn’t dare tell a soul.” 

        After an hour of unpacking and plotting their night of minibar raiding, the girls headed out to meet the rest of their class in the lobby. Ms. Weaver clapped for everyone’s attention. 

        “Students, we’re traveling all together today, please stay close. We’re taking a tour of the Empire State Building, so I hope you’re not afraid of heights!” Ms. Weaver turned on heel and motioned for the class to follow her, not willing to deviate a moment from her strict schedule. Everyone began to follow behind her, except Catra, who was standing still. Adora turned back, realizing she was walking alone. 

        “Catra? You good?” She slowly placed her hand in Catra’s. 

        “What? Oh, yeah, I’m good! I’m good, let’s go!” She brushed past Adora and rushed to join the group. Adora was confused, but she knew her friend wasn’t the type to say more than she wanted to, so there was no point in inquiring any further. She jogged up to the rest of the group and fell into stride next to Catra. 

Chapter Text

       At the entrance of the Empire State Building, Catra stood with her arms crossed, facing the ground. Adora had spent the whole bus ride trying to act like she didn’t notice something was off, but it was clear something was on Catra’s mind. 

       “Catra, can you please just tell me what’s going on with you? You’ve been acting strange since we left the hotel,” Adora placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Did I make you uncomfortable? I can ask for a new room if it’s, um, about that…” 

       Catra sighed and met Adora’s eyes. She looked terribly, genuinely concerned she had done something wrong. Catra decided she wasn’t willing to jeopardize their night together by letting Adora think she was the problem. She grabbed her friend by the collar of her shirt and pulled her down to speak to her without being overheard. 

       “I’m afraid of heights, okay?” Catra hissed in her ear, and Adora’s eyes widened. “It’s embarrassing so I’d rather no one else knew, got it?” 

       Adora nodded and Catra let go of her shirt. She straightened and placed her hand softly on Catra’s back as the group of students began to enter the building. The tour guide was talking but at their place at the back of the group the pair could barely hear him. As they reached the elevator, the class divided into smaller groups to head to the observatory deck. Catra glanced at the map as they waited outside the metal doors. It read Observatory Deck: Floor 102. She tensed. 

       Adora swore she could feel Catra shiver, and removed her hand from her back as the two stepped onto the elevator with their classmates. Once they were inside, the first thing Catra noticed was the glass flooring. She winced a little involuntarily as the lift began moving up, and before she realized what she was doing she grabbed Adora’s wrist tightly to steady herself. Adora tried not to call attention to the gesture. Catra squeezed her eyes shut as they rose steadily higher and higher, wishing her classmates would speak louder so she wouldn’t have to hear the woosh of the elevator passing by floor after floor. After what seemed like an eternity, there was a quiet ding as they reached the 102nd floor observatory. From there, they would have a view of the whole city. The doors opened and everyone stepped out, save for Catra who stepped back against the wall, still gripping Adora’s wrist. 

       “Hey Catra?” Adora turned to see her pressed to the back wall of the elevator. She tried to ignore Catra’s nails digging into her arm. “I think we’re meant to uh, get off now,” Adora said, unsure if she had ever seen Catra so nervous. She stepped back towards her and put a hand on her shoulder, wondering the best way to coax her out before someone noticed. Catra took a shaky breath and looked to Adora, who looked concerned beyond belief. She sighed as she realized she couldn’t prolong this any further. 

       “Could you, um, could you put your hand on my back? Like before…” Catra asked quietly, feeling her face get hot. There was nothing she hated more than admitting she was afraid, especially in front of Adora. Adora’s eyes widened, and Catra slowly let go of her wrist. She did her best at a smile “Please?” 

       “Of course. C’mon, don’t rush, okay?” Adora smiled back and slid her hand gently between Catra’s back and the wall of the elevator. She pushed on her just a bit, and the two of them stepped off the elevator just as the doors shut behind them. 

       Standing a few feet back from the tall glass windows, Catra could see miles and miles across the city. The roads below looked like nothing but a series of lines and curves. She felt like she couldn’t breathe in all the way. 

       “You okay, Catra?” Adora leaned down a bit to get a better look at her face. Catra tensed further as she felt Adora’s piercing eyes on her. 

       “Pretty sure I’m having a panic attack, A,” she said with thick sarcasm, though she felt like her veins were ice cold. Adora gave a sympathetic smile as she slid her hand on Catra’s back from over her jacket to just over her tank top. She felt every inch of her body switch from cold to to white hot. 

       “I’m sorry. We don’t have to get any closer to the windows than this, okay?” 

       “Yeah, obviously I’m not gonna go any closer,” Catra snapped, and she felt Adora tense up, her fingers curling slightly on her back. She hadn’t meant to get angry at Adora, but she hated seeming so weak . She looked away, and realized suddenly how much fun all of their classmates seemed to be having. Some had their hands pressed to glass windows, and others posed as their friends knelt to take photos of them holding up peace signs in front of the city skyline. Catra turned her eyes back to Adora, who was standing still just beside her, looking at her with wide eyes. The two both straightened and faced away, faces red from the unexpected eye contact. Catra took a deep breath and stared at the floor. 

       “Adora, you don’t have to stand in the back with me the whole time. Go enjoy the, uh, view.” 

       “I like the view over here, don’t worry,” Adora insisted, gently rubbing the small of Catra’s back with her thumb. Catra could feel electricity entangling her spine, as if Adora’s hand was covered in live wires that shocked her over and over with every move. She could almost swear that Adora had been looking at her when she had said that. She was almost sure she felt Adora’s blue eyes burning her, bluer and deeper than the clear blue sky showing through the wall of glass in front of her. Her lungs felt like they would collapse upon themselves. She couldn’t take it anymore. She decided to choose the blue she had a fighting chance of swimming in and grabbed the hem of Adora’s shirt and started marching towards the windows in front of them. 

       “Uh, Catra, what’re you-” Adora stuttered, stumbling to catch up as she put both of her hands around Catra’s in an attempt to stop her shirt from being pulled off. 

       “I can’t let you hang in the back the whole time, Adora, don’t you wanna see the ci- oh.” Catra cut herself off and stopped walking, realizing all too late that she had stepped onto the part of the floor that was transparent glass. She could see the windows of every floor below her, the tops of buildings and cars and people all a blur below. Fuck. “Fu- uh- Adoruh-” Catra lost her footing and fell backwards, her eyes shutting tightly as the seconds stretched. She braced herself, imagining her body about to break the glass and send her plummeting thousands of feet to the New York cement. 

       After what seemed like an eternity, Catra opened her eyes and slowly came to terms with the fact that she was not dead, but she wished she was. She was upright, kind of, with bent knees splayed in either direction, and she actually wasn’t standing so much as she was leaning her full weight onto Adora’s arms under her own, like a trust fall. 

       “Nobody’s looking, take it slow, I’ll walk you to the bathroom, cool?” Adora said quietly, pulling Catra upwards gently but firmly. Catra nodded and obliged, silently wrapping both her arms around Adora’s left one and allowing herself to be led shakily off of the glass flooring and towards the hallway behind them.