CW: Past child abuse, canon typical violence, internalised victim blaming

Adora stood still staring at the place Catra used to be her ears ringing and the world spun as her legs gave out under her. She ended up on the ground her legs folded painful under her. Everything blurred as her heart felt like it was sinking to the ground.

"Adora?" Glimmer said hesitantly, "You, ah, You okay?"

"Honestly? No, I'm not okay at all" Adora admitted her voice shakey

"That's okay." Bow comforted, "To not be okay I mean. You don't always have to be okay."

"yes, I do," Adora tried to object but it came out desperate.

Her friends sat next to her on the hard gravel with confused looks. Adora started to laugh It was all so fucked and somehow that was really funny. Laughter devolved into sobs all of her feeling rushing through her so with painful force. She dropped her face into her hands.

Adora looked up when two warm bodies hit her wrapping their arms around her. A long moment of warmth brought Adora back into the moment. She was grounded here, they were here. They pulled away after a moment.

"I think you probably have some questions," Adora sighed.

"Well yeah." Bow said, "But if you're not up for it."

"If you don't ask me now, I might not ever tell you," Adora muttered.

"Okay, What Catra said about Shadow Weaver. Is that true, does she, ya know abuse, you guys?" Glimmer asked.

Adora stared at her for a long moment. That was the first question? Not about the drugs or the police? Adora sucked in a breath, "Yes I mean I think so? She hits Catra and shoves her into things a lot. She pushed us to work with Hordak."

Looking up at the sunshine too bright for January, Adora wished it was grey and cloudy. It would better match how she felt. When neither of her friends interjected Adora continued, "She always told me I had to be perfect, I have to be or she would hurt the other girls, usually Catra. I have to do everything right or she won't love me anymore. And when things went bad she always made me clean it up, I had to clean it up. If I'm not perfect then I won't be worth anything. I have to make sure everyone had food, and patch up the wounds and once after Shadow Weaver learned Catra was gay I took her to the hospital she was bleeding and had a really bad concussion. She needed an antibiotic and some nausea meds. And I didn't have the money so I went to get the money Hordak owed me for what I'd sold that week, but the guard wouldn't give it to me, but Catra wasn't going to be okay if I didn't get it. They wouldn't listen and she was even with me all curled up and hurt. So I stabbed him, and well I got the money. That's why I was arrested. He didn't die, and they never actually charged me. I'm not stupid enough to like get caught. I did that perfectly too, but I don't want to do those things. I want to be good I want to do it right. I have to keep everyone safe and I have to be perfect you understand? "

Glimmer and Bow both looked shocked and confused.

"Adora" Bow gasped tears streaming from his eyes.

"Can I beat her up?" Glimmer asked anger flashing across her face, "I think I should beat her up."

"You don't think I'm bad, or lying, or broken or something?" Adora mumbled feeling winded and confused.

"Adora of course not, someone treating you like that isn't your fault. I believe you." Bow hugged her again, Adora laid her head on his shoulder.

"I mean I'm not happy you shanked somebody, but you saved your best friend. I can't say I'd never hurt someone to save you guys." Glimmer said

"I didn't shank him, it was a real knife," Adora said feeling a bit offended.

Glimmer smiled slightly amused, Adora was glad she could still smile at her. Bow let her go patting her shoulder gently.

"What...What happens now?" Adora asked to no one. However, Glimmer seemed to have a plan.

"I tell my mom. She won't leave you with an abusive person like that. And my mother likes to get her way. And I won't let her stop pushing. Me, my mom, Bow and anyone else who can we're going to help you. And your other foster sisters. I swear, I'm not going to leave you alone."

Looking up at Glimmer's earnest and determined face Adora nodded she wanted to believe that.

Bow drove them to the Moon corporation building Glimmer held Adora's hand the whole time. Glimmer and Bow had both shrugged off their jackets and Adora knew it was because the heat was up so high but they were leaving it there because she was still shivering, A combination of her jacket being worn out so the harsh wind was colder for her, but also part of it was in her head. All those feelings left her in a cold sweat. Adora was amused how even when the guards at the office building tried to stop them Glimmer just glared at them and well then the three of them passed right by. Glimmer didn't even stop at the secretary's desk she marched straight into Ms Moon's office.

"Glimmer?!" Ms Moon said looking up from her computer, "What are you doing here?"

"We need your help." Glimmer stated.

"And you think you can just run in here?"Ms Moon chided.

Adora's head started to spin her heart beating too fast. She couldn't do more violence right now, couldn't handle yelling. The intense need to vomit, scream or pass out washed over her. Could they just fight like a little bit later? Her whole body tilted before she hit the ground Bow manoeuvred her to a plush chair.

"What do you need?" Ms Moon asked her tone soft and was that worried? Adora figured she must look like hell warmed over for Ms Moon to sound like that

"Adora's foster mother, well, she abuses Adora and the other kids." Glimmer explained.

"ahh" Ms Moon sighed, "That's what I feared."

"You know that and you did nothing?" Glimmer shouted.

"Of course not Glimmer. I've been putting in the paperwork to be a foster parent myself and find a way to help. But I never had any proof. Yes, Adora's behaviour was deeply concerning but sending someone over there with no evidence would likely make Ms Weaver angry and hurt the kids more. And nothing else would change." Ms Moon responded.

"She's right." Adora cut in, "People have said things before but by the time the social workers got there it was all cleaned up and everyone had their lies to say. I even told people things sometimes when I was younger but I never followed through. and most of the times I was too scared, and then things would be worse. It always got worse. "

Ms Moon nodded she got up and walked over kneeling in front of Adora. Taking Adora's hands in hers Ms Moon made direct eye contact. The light blue almost white eyes were piercing but with warmth and life instead of knives and ice.

"I am sorry for making you feel so unwelcome before. I won't let her hurt you anymore, I should have offered before, but I was sure you'd deny it," Ms Moon Apoligsed.

"I probably would have, I mean I don't even know what's wrong? I'm scared and confused so I just lie about it. And I probably deserve it anyway." Adora deflect.

"Adora! Look at me, you did not deserve it." Ms Moon said with a stern clarity.

Adora felt confused staring at Ms Moon who continued to hold her gaze steady and strong. The pressure on her hands and legs grounded her. Ms Moon was her tether to this world.

"I'm going to have to ask something hard of you, and I'm sorry to have to ask it. Will you talk to social services and the police. It will help a lot if you do."

"Yes, yes." Adora nodded, she wanted to be done with it all. She wanted to move one from the darkness.

"Good. You can stay with us tonight. And as many days after as you would like."

"We have to get Lily out too. And if Catra is still there, but I don't think she is."

"Where is she?" Ms Moon asked as she seemed to spin into action taking notes and typing things

"I think she ran away. That's why we're fighting, what pushed me to tell you guys. We always had a plan when we were sixteen to leave and get emancipated so we could run away just the two of us. But I didn't leave with her so she's mad."

"All right. If she is there We'll get her out of course, and if not well that's for the social workers to work out for now."

"Okay."Adora nodded.

Gimmer hugged her again, "Like I said, we're going to help you. You'll be safe."

Adora leaned her head on Glimmer's. It wasn't desperate or even afraid. It was just warm, and comforting. Not fighting for something kind, just kind. Adora was sure later she would be wracked with Anxiety. But for now, she wasn't scared, she felt brave.