Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Sorry this is a bit late! I've been pretty busy and working a lot! A little bit of Faberry in this part and even more in the next! Thank you for reading and please review! :)
Quinn allowed Brittany and Santana to show her to the choir room where all the Glee Club was congregated. She was startled when she was immediately ambushed upon entry by Kurt, who was dragging along a taller dark-haired boy by the wrist.
"Quinn! This is Blaine! Blaine, meet Quinn. Isn't she amazing?"
Quinn smiled politely at the couple and shook the taller boy's hand. It was strange feeling more accepted in a room full of people she barely knew than she ever had on her home planet. If only all the people on Earth were like her new friends.
After exchanging pleasantries with Blaine, Quinn took a seat next to Brittany and blushed when Rachel sat next to her. A curly headed man entered the room before she could say anything to the girl. He was, apparently, the William Schuester Coach Sylvester had referred to. Besides the overly gelled hairstyle, she couldn't see what so annoyed the woman.
"It looks like we have a newcomer. Quinn, was it?" She figured Santana or one of the others must have explained her appearance to him since he hardly blinked an eye at her ears and tail. He shook her hand enthusiastically. "Would you like to sing something for us? I don't want to put you on the spot, but everyone else has auditioned. We let everyone in; it's mainly so I'll know what parts to give you for the group numbers."
Quinn paled. No one had thought to mention she'd have to audition. She definitely was not prepared to sing in front of everyone, especially Rachel.
"I'm not that familiar with… Earth music…" The others in the room looked at her like she'd grown an extra head. "I only know a few songs in English… but not very well. No one would understand most of the songs I know."
"Whatever you're comfortable with, Quinn. No one is going to judge you here."
The weird thing was she actually believed the man. Still, that revelation did little to curb her performance anxiety. She stood silently on shaky legs and moved to the center of the room, feeling a little self-conscious under the collective gaze of her new teammates.
"Umm… I'm going to sing you a song my mom would sing to my older sister and me when we were young."
She sat at the piano after receiving an encouraging smile from Brittany and played a few chords to cue herself in. Her native tongue spilling from her lips as she sang felt completely natural to her. Quinn knew the other students were likely shocked that her first language more resembled the bastard child of French and Egyptian than the meowing they were probably expecting. The song was a traditional Felindaen lullaby. It spoke of clear blue skies, warm season days, and peace. She imagined the forests and meadows she had grown up in, the emotion making itself known in her husky voice. She held the last note, her voice trembling slightly, and played the final notes on the ivory keys. She sighed, pushing the memories away and turned to face the others in the room.
They sat with unhinged jaws watching the blonde with shocked faces. Santana was the first to break the silence.
"Holy shit."
Mr. Schuster glanced at the Latina disapprovingly before smiling at the blonde.
"Quinn, I think I speak for all of us when I say we would be lucky to have you join us."
"Shit, Heathcliff, why didn't you tell us you could sing like that?" Seeing the blonde blush and duck her head, she scoffed and sat back on the porch swing, passing a sweating glass of lemonade across Quinn to Brittany. "Don't give me that humble bullshit. I had no fucking clue what you were saying, but you sounded fucking amazing and you know it. Even Berry was speechless."
Quinn's flush deepened as she remembered how Rachel had looked at her when she sat back down after performing. Dark eyes wide and jaw slack. She also recalled how she felt when she had heard the shorter girl sing later in the practice. It was unbelievable that a voice so big could come from a girl so small. She knew all the inconveniences of becoming accustomed to her new home would be worth it if she could just hear that voice once more.
"Hello! Fluffy!" She shook her head when she noticed the tan hand waving in her face. "Where did you go? I asked you a question."
Quinn's brows furrowed.
"I'm sorry. I must've missed it."
The Latina rolled her eyes.
"I said that Britts and I wanna know what's goin' on with you and the Hobbit."
Quinn sighed. She should've of known better than to think that she had gotten out of the conversation so easily.
"I honestly don't know. She's just really beautiful and I can't remember ever feeling the way I do when I'm looking at her, okay?" She buried her face in her hands. "What is wrong with me?"
Brittany stroked her back soothingly.
"That's how I feel about San."
Quinn's head shot up and she shrugged off the taller girl's touch.
"But she's a human!"
Santana's face twisted into a sneer.
"Yeah, and you're talking to two perfectly good ones right now."
Quinn felt her heart sink. She ducked her head in regret.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't think-"
She was cut off when the brunette grasped the collar of her uniform and violently jerked her forward until they were nose to nose. Quinn gulped as she met fiery eyes.
"No you listen, Furball, and you listen close. Sometimes you feel things for someone that you don't ask to feel. You think I decided to be gay? Cause I sure as hell didn't. You just have to accept what you feel and carry on. But you will not insult my human girlfriend and me just because you're confused. I will not hesitate to throw your furry ass back to the wolves. Are we clear?"
Quinn nodded frantically, scooting almost onto Brittany's lap when she was released. Santana took a deep breath, all traces of anger draining from her face and body upon exhaling.
"This is what is going to happen. You're going to come with us to Britt's house and we're going to eat junk food and talk about girly things, got it?"
And just like that Santana and Brittany pulled her from the swing and it was like the argument never happened. Quinn decided that her new best friends were kind of incredible.
"Brittany, you know I can't talk to cats, right?"
The dancer blinked at Quinn as she held her massive, squirming tabby out to the shorter girl. The giant cat hissed and yowled, reaching out with enormous paws to swipe at Quinn's face. A low growl rumbled from the alien's throat and the domesticated feline immediately quieted down. She sniffed at the animal, her ears pinned back.
Santana entered the bedroom, tray of food in tow, and rolled her eyes at her girlfriend's antics.
"Babe, get Lord Tubbington out of Quinn's face."
The dancer pouted and released the angry cat who hissed once more at Quinn before darting under the bed. The Latina handed her girlfriend a cookie to placate her and set the tray down on a nightstand. After putting the movie into the player, she moved to the bed and laid across the center, snuggling into Brittany's side and throwing her legs over Quinn's lap.
Neither girl had thought to tell Quinn just how many sex scenes were in the movie. As she shielded her eyes from yet another lustful encounter and tried to ignore the sound effects, she wondered how anyone could watch these films. Santana scoffed when she saw the blush painting her friend's cheeks.
"Prude much, Kitty?"
Quinn shoved the cackling girl's feet off of her lap with a glare.
"Relax Whiskers, just a joke. No need to be so uptight. When was the last time you got laid anyway?" Dark eyes widened when the blonde remained silent. "No way! You're still a virgin! That explains a lot, actually."
Smoothing down her tail self-consciously, Quinn swallowed and cleared her throat.
"Where I come from… sex… is a really taboo topic. It's usually only done for means of reproduction because it's kind of painful for the female."
Santana sat up completely, her eyebrows raised.
"Are you serious? I would die."
Brittany spoke up. "We had to get our other cat, Charity, fixed because Tubs kept mounting her and it hurt her because his thing was all prickly."
Santana turned to Quinn with wide eyes.
"No way in fucking hell." Quinn shrugged with a blush, not able to meet her friend's gaze. "Shit, Q, how is every girl on your planet not a lesbian?"
"It's illegal. Arrests were carried out in the streets if the authorities caught wind of any same sex activity. I guess to keep the population up or something."
"That blows." Santana leaned back against the headboard with a frown. "So, are you?"
Quinn's brows furrowed. "Am I what?"
Brown eyes rolled for what seemed the fiftieth time that evening. "Do I have to spell it out for you? Are you gay?"
There was a sharp intake of air and Quinn was redder than ever before. "No one's ever asked me that before."
"Well, I'm asking you now." The brunette softened, seeing the panicked expression the blonde wore. "You don't have to answer. I'm curious, but I don't want to force you out of the closet. I know what that feels like and I don't want to put anyone else through that."
Quinn took a deep breath. "I think I am." She exhaled shakily. "I've never found any male all that attractive."
"And girls?" Santana prompted.
"Anytime I've imagined my future, I've always ended up with a female. Even before I met Rachel. Except now pursuing my sexuality isn't an impossible fantasy anymore. That's kind of terrifying."
She closed her eyes now that her biggest secret was out. She felt naked in front of her friends, like they could see through all the walls she had worked so hard to erect. She knew that was far from the truth, but she had already revealed far more than she had intended. When arms encircled her shoulders, she hugged Brittany back tightly.
"We're not gonna judge you, Quinn. You haven't judged us for being together or San for being mean or me for being me. And we would be big hippos if we said it was bad to like girls. I think Rachel's really hot. Not as hot as San though."
Quinn felt a sudden rush of affection for the bubbly blonde.
"Thanks Britt."
Though the rest of the week passed without incident, Quinn was looking forward to the weekend. Mostly because she wouldn't have to deal with Coach Sylvester for a couple of days, but also because it would give her a chance to collect her thoughts. Thoughts about her new life and friends, thoughts about her sexual orientation, about Rachel.
She had spent most of her free time with Brittany and Santana, however the topic of the high-strung brunette had not come up again and for that Quinn was grateful. She'd had limited contact with the singer since their initial meeting. They exchanged pleasantries and sat next to one another at lunch and in Glee, however that was the extent of their interactions.
"Hey, Garfield!"
Quinn rolled her eyes at her friend's name-calling, slowing down so the Latina could catch up. Glee had just let out and it was finally time for a couple of days of relaxation. Or so she thought.
"B and I were planning on having girl's night tonight."
A grimace crossed the blonde's face. She did not want to know what Santana's idea of a 'girl's night' with Brittany entailed.
"That's… nice."
"Not that kind of girl's night, you idiot. Get your mind out of the gutter. I meant having girls over for games and drinks and snacks. Shit."
Crimson tinted Quinn's cheeks and her ears turned back apologetically.
"Sorry. That actually sounds fun. Just you, me and Brittany?"
"Actually," Santana grinned evilly, "I thought we could invite Rachel to join us."
Quinn choked on the breath she had just inhaled.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't give me that. I think you should be the one to invite her. I'm pretty sure she's terrified of me and B will forget why she was talking to her in the first place. And anyway, she won't say no to you."
"What! But I can't!"
Just the prospect of speaking words other than 'Hi, how are you?' to Rachel was terrifying. Where she had grown up, things were simpler. Kittens weren't allowed near the opposite sex without their parents present until they were old enough to choose a mate and start a family. Even then, the marriages were usually arranged. No dating, no love, no confusion. She met Santana's determined gaze with her tail tucked firmly between her legs.
"Don't be such a pussy!" The Latina made a face when she realized what she had said and burst into hysterical laughter. She trailed off when she caught sight of hurt hazel eyes. "God, Quinn, it was a joke." She sighed when Quinn remained unimpressed. "I'm sorry. Look, from what I've learned about you since I've known you, I know that you're strong. You've survived an apocalypse and you've come to a new world and managed to make friends with the coolest people on Earth. You have claws and pointy teeth and you can be really fucking scary when you're mad. In fact, I should be thankful I'm still alive after most of the stuff I've said to you. So, sorry for that too. Point is, you need to grow some furry balls and go talk to her. We've wasted fifteen minutes arguing so you'd better hope she's still in the choir room. Now, go!"
Quinn nodded and breathed deeply. "Thank you. I actually think that's the nicest thing you've said to me since I've been here." She smirked at the brunette and unsheathed her claws, raising her hand so they pricked at Santana's cheek. "And don't call me pussy ever again."
The Latina flinched back from the sharp points before she caught the teasing glint in Quinn's eyes.
"There's the Quinn I know."
Quinn hesitated at the cracked door of the choir room. She could hear notes from the piano and the lilting soprano of Rachel's voice floating out. With a silent pep talk to herself, she pulled the door open and slipped inside. Rachel was at the piano, her slender fingers dancing over the keys. She sang a song that Quinn recognized from listening to the radio in Santana's car. Her voice washed over the transfixed blonde like a flood and she almost forgot why she had come back. Quinn slinked closer to the piano and froze when Rachel finally caught sight of her. The brunette beamed and ended her song.
"I like to stay after rehearsal for additional practice. I have to keep my talent sharp if I'm going to make it into NYADA."
She scooted over motioned for Quinn to join her on the piano bench. The blonde nodded and swallowed, sitting and smoothing out her Cheerio's skirt.
"What can I do for you, Quinn?"
The blonde finally looked up from her lap and sucked in a breath when chocolate eyes bore into her own.
"Um, Santana and Brittany and I are having a girl's night tonight at Santana's house and I was wondering- Do you want to come?"
The shorter girl's eyes widened.
"You're inviting me to a girl's night? With Brittany and Santana? Are you sure? People usually don't want me around."
The brunette played with her hands in her lap and Quinn felt a surge of anger towards everyone who would make Rachel feel as if she weren't welcomed.
"Yeah. I really want you to be there."
Rachel's head snapped back up and her gaze was once again piercing into Quinn's.
"You want me there?"
"Yes. Why is that so hard to believe?"
Rachel sighed.
"It's just you're a cheerleader and you hang out with Brittany and Santana and you're so pretty."
Quinn blushed, her ears turning back and tail winding around her leg.
"Thank you, but I think- You're really pretty too, Rachel. And people probably treat you that way because they're intimidated."
Rachel nodded and remained silent for a moment, running her fingers over the polished keys.
"Can I touch them?"
Quinn regarded Rachel with furrowed eyebrows until she realized that the girl's eyes were now fixated on her ears.
"Um, I guess. They're kind of sensitive."
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, I was just won-"
"It's fine, I promise."
With a shaky breath, Quinn bowed her head slightly, keeping her eyes locked on Rachel's face. The brunette bit her bottom lip before lifting her arm. A tan hand brushed against golden locks before stroking a blonde tufted ear.
"They're so soft."
Quinn sighed as her body began to relax.
"That actually feels really good."
Quinn leaned into the caress and sighed when nimble fingers began to scratch behind her ear. It was the most utterly divine sensation she'd ever felt in her entire life. The contact warmed her from the inside out and it took every ounce of control not to moan in pleasure. She closed her eyes and pushed her head further into Rachel's touch. Both of Rachel's hands were involved now and Quinn was sure she was in heaven. Before she could stop it, a low rumble began emanating from the back of her throat. She squeaked and immediately jerked her head back.
"Did you just purr?"
Quinn felt her face burning.
"I'm sorry."
She moved to get up, but was stopped by Rachel's hands grasping her own.
"No. Don't apologize for something that is a natural reaction. Besides, it was actually a little adorable."
Quinn was sure her heart stopped.
"Really?"
Rachel nodded and picked up her bag, checking her phone.
"Really. Now why don't I take you to Santana's since she texted me saying that she 'left your furry ass here' and we can grab my things for girl's night on the way?"