Glimmer was finding that Adora was closer than ever by distance but father away in all the ways that mattered. Somehow getting her away from what hurt her was making her even more unhappy. Some of it was clear and very understandable. The anxiety over leaving her home, all the change and feeling responsible for Lily. Which Glimmer supposed she got, especially with Lily. The little girl was super cute and celery trusted Adora over everyone else, but it still sucked that she got most of Adora's free time.
Adora also seemed more on edge, jumping even more than before, more obsessive, distracted and nervous. Glimmer wanted to do something to make her friend feel better, something so they could see her smile more. Not look so, so, so something she couldn't place but it looked like it hurt.
Glimmer had also been a bit distracted by thoughts of her father recently. He had been killed after getting jumped by people who worked for Hordak. It was a long time ago but Glimmer still remembered it vividly. As she got older she referred to it as her "Batman" moment. It was early similar. To dudes had cut the car off on the road. Her dad had gotten out to try and see what happened, yelling broke out, then a beat tense of silence, then her mom screamed, a large thud marker her father hitting the car, dead. She didn't remember much after that she'd been little and it was all so hectic. The memory would always hurt, but it didn't as much as it once had. She'd been surrounded by people who cared, even when she and her mom thought she knew she loved her. Sometimes it felt like her mother wasn't proud of her, but they'd been closer lately and she'd been more affectionate. Insecurity still reigned sometimes but less often. Glimmer didn't know what would have happened if she'd seen that and then lived with someone like Shadow Weaver. It would have broken her, she deeply hoped they could help keep Adora together.
After school she was curled on the couch going over her trig homework she felt her foot being poked. Glimmer shot up to see Lily at the foot of the couch.
"Oh ah hello," Glimmer said.
"Can I sit with you?" Lily asked looking everywhere but Glimmer's face.
"Course." Glimmer nodded sliding her feet so the younger girl could sit. She had her bunny locked in her arms like usual looked so little and vulnerable. She was small even for kindergarten, her black hair was usually in some kind of pigtail like things or held back with a headband. She was healthier looking now, her deep brown skins no longer had a grey tint to it and her eyes no longer constantly slightly cloudy. Glimmer stared for a second then put her head back in her book.
A few minutes later Glimmer was startled out of an annoying problem.
"Why don't you and Adora sleep together?" Lily asked.
"Wait, what!?" Glimmer said sitting up. Why would she assume they would be? Like yeah it was obvious she had a crush on Adora but still, they weren't having sex or even dating.
"Catra and Adora slept together, always. You haven't. Don't you love Adora?" Lilly said, clearly thinking Glimmer was the one missing the obvious.
"Well, I mean..." Glimmer stuttered unsure what to say, also wondering if Adora had lied about Catra, "we're not dating or anything."
"I know that." Lily scrunched her nose, "but you aren't there for Adora when she's scared. Catra was. And both of them were there when I got scared. You can't keep Adora safe from far away, or be warm"
Glimmer thought for a moment and realised she meant literally sleeping in the same bed. So that was cleared up.
"Well," Glimmer thought, "You see I care about Adora, but that's not how I choose to show that."
"Oh." Lily said, " but you would protect her?"
"Yes, of course, I would" Glimmer confirmed.
"Okay," Lilly said as she promptly slid off the couch and left.
Glimmer watched her go, that was one of the weirdest conversations he'd had. And she'd made plans to light a boat on fire with Sea Hawk.
A little while later Adora came in the door dragging her soccer bag behind her dirt on her jersey and looking like the most beautiful thing ever grass-stained socks and all.
"What ?" Adora said smiling walking over to Glimmer.
"What do you mean what?' Gimmer asked.
"You're staring at me."
"Am not!" Glimmer defended but she felt her cheeks flush as she said it.
Adora just laughed. Glimmer tossed a blanket on the couch so Adora could sit without getting mud on the upholstery.
"Good practice?" Glimmer asked.
"April showers." Adora shrugged.
"Ah. See that's why I door sports inside, no rain or mud."
"Also no sliding in the mud, a treasured pastime."
"Sure." Glimmer rolled her eyes. She took a beat, breath, then asked, "Did you have a thing with Catra?"
"What do you mean?" Adora said stopping midway untying her sneaker.
"Lily told me you guys slept together, like in the same bed." Glimmer explained lamely.
"We did," Adora said, the change of tone in her was palpable for Glimmer.
The sullen tone was biting even more so because she caused it.
"But it wasn't romantic, we started doing it in elementary school. We never had to be alone when we were together. Someone was right there, to bring us back to reality. It was home in a house that...that wasn't"
"Okay." Glimmer said.
"Yeah. I've not lied to you. Catra and I weren't dating, I guess I have no idea what we were, but we're nothing now." Adora said sucking in a long breath, "I'm going to get a snack."
"Right." Glimmer replied.
A few days passed and Glimmer was pouring herself cereal at 1 am because, well because she could. The only other people in the house were her mom and Lily. everyone else was somewhere else, including Adora who had a travel match for soccer and wouldn't be back till the next day. Cereal at 1 AM looking out the windows was also just a really enjoyable experience. Lucky Charms taste much better when you weren't rushing out of the house and that's just a fact. Glimmer walked back to her room casually eating but as she walked she heard a small sniffing from Adora/Lily's room. She pushed the door open to see Lily curled up rocking on the bed.
Glimmer swallowed and walked in. She set the bowl on the dresser and went over the Lily.
"Hey, Lily It's Glimmer," She said softly.
Lilly peeked her head up," Sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" Glimmer said.
"Waking you up."
"Ah. Well, you don't need to be sorry. Nightmares happen, you can always wake me up if Adora isn't here."
"You're not upset?"
"Nah" Glimmer sais shaking her head giving Lily what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
"Will you stay with me?"
"Course I will." Glimmer nodded, she glanced at her cereal she could leave it and toss it when they woke up. Or she could bring it over here, she was sure Lily wouldn't be sleeping anytime soon. "Let me get my cereal."
"In the middle of the night?" Lily asked as Glimmer brought it.
"Oh yeah. 1 am is the best time to eat lucky charms."
"It is?"
"For sure."
Glimmer sat against the headboard. Lily leaned her head next to her and they sat for a long time. Glimmer put the Bowl down after she'd finished and when she leaned back Lily shifted to curling up on her lap. Lily's slow breathing was calming. Glimmer ran her hand on the younger girls back. Her heartbeat even and the flight shifting lacked any stiffness. A tired smile crossed her lips and she closed her eyes.
They both woke up when Adora came in the door, she looked confused but then smiled.
"Glimmer helped me with might nightmare," Lily explained as she jumped and gave Adora a hug.
"She did that's so nice."
"She also eats Lucky Charms in the middle of the night."
"That's cool?" Adora said glancing up at Glimmer who grinned and shrugged,
"I have to go the bathroom," Lilly said and ran off.
Glimmer fidgeted looking at Adora who seemed to be thinking really hard. But then everything happened really fast Adora ran over to her and before she could think they were kissing. It was the most amazing feeling. Then it was over and Adora looked just as shocked at what had happened as Glimmer did.
"Ah sorry," Adora said.
"No!" Glimmer shouted, "don't be sorry."
"I should have, asked, and I don't know if..."
"Well, you can ask next time." Glimmer said her heart skipping a beat and her stomach flipped at the idea of a next time.
"Next time?" Adora asked.
"Well yeah. I've been crushing on you for like ever, and if you like me too. I think we should do more kissing."
"I do like you. I couldn't even really think about it you know? Before, and I've been a bit overwhelmed and feeling I don't off. But now, I mean everything you're doing, and being so nice to Lily. and being so weird and wonderful that you eat lucky charms 1 AM. It's amazing you're amazing."
"I think you're amazing too Adora. Brave, strong, so cute, determined, protective, funny and really pretty." Glimmer said, "you've been through so much, and here you are."
"Can I kiss you?" Adora said leaning forward. Glimmer nodded and Adora's lips met hers as mid-smile.
They had a great morning eating pastries for breakfast and watching cartoons. Adora looked happy and they held hands the whole time. Lily, it turns out could be talkative around just them. Then Ms Ra showed up to let them know they had a court date. Glimmer watched that conversation from the sidelines. But watching it she discovered what the look was Adora got that pained her. It was haunted, Adora looked haunted.
