Turns out court trials are exhausting. Watching parades of people discuss their lives and plan their future.

Watching everyone testify went slow and fast all at once. Adora's school psychiatrist went through her appraisal of Adora and her fear of reporting Adora without proof. Apretenly Adora presented as someone with PTSD and other abuse signs. Referencing her paranoia, her hypervigilance, her lack of self-care under stress, the assumption of calling CPS, hiding injuries, panic attacks and flashbacks others had watched. Next, the social worker was called to the stand she shared the records of previous reports of abuse, Adora and Lily's experiences, the failures that sometimes happen in the system, and school records. A police officer talked about connections with Hordak. It was so dizzying.

Eventually, Adora was called to the stand, It felt like she was in a war zone, everything felt like a threat, even Glimmer's good luck kiss couldn't break the hold of paranoia. It started with her lawyer asking questions having Adora repeat her whole story for what now felt like the thousandth time. Then the cross-examiner had a chance to talk to her, he was a sleazy looking dude who made her hair stand on end.

"Why did you share all of this information now. Why did you not come forward sooner? You told us all that the abuse has been constant for the most part since you were in first grade. Forced alcohol consumption, and physical battering of your fellow foster children. But you only tell these stories now? "

"I did try. They showed you. It's not my fault no one did anything."

"I know we saw that reports were filed. But now we know a social worker did step in when you told this extreme version of the story or you would not be here. Why did you not share this degree of information before?"

"I don't know. I wanted it to stop, and people saw something was wrong. But eventually, I had to just get used to it, I was never going to get out." Adora explained feeling upset by the accusation. She'd known it was coming, but being told she was lying was her worst fear realised.

"If it was as horrific as you say, how could get used to it?"

"Because I was told we deserved it. If I wasn't perfect then I didn't deserve love, and if I couldn't keep the others under control they got hurt. And when they got beat it was their fault, the had to deserve they were bad. I believed her." Adora said quietly slumping in her chair.

"I understand you have been arrested and got off on technicalities."

"Yes."

"I think that if we look at that in combination with your past acting out, suspected drugs use, skipping classes and this recent bidding for a scholarship. We can see you clearly want attention. It makes sense someone in your situation as a foster kid would want more attention from adults. You can tell us if this is a cry for attention."

"I'm not. I don't want this attention."

"None of you're acting out or truancy was just acting out for attention?"

"I do what I do to survive. I had to care for Catra. I told you earlier it was my job when Ms Weaver wouldn't protect us if I didn't break rules she would have died of an infection. If I don't skip school to care for her she could get hurt when concussed. And it wasn't my idea to apply for Greyskull." Adora said forcefully leaning forward in her chair. How dare they assume she did this for shits and giggles.

"Many of your claims include abuse against your foster sibling Catra. But I don't see her here advocating for herself. Does she share your view, if she did would she not be here?"

"I don't know. Maybe she doesn't want to come here and be told the worst moments of her life are a lie." Adora's shouted. She bit back tears, god why were they bringing up Catra. The whole time she'd been cold kept emotion to a minimum, but now it spilt over.

The lawyer faltered, even someone so soulless couldn't deal with her on the verge of a breakdown. "No further questions." He said.

Adora walked to the bench. Her knees banged into the bench and she collapsed around her. The rooms was loud and fear gnawed at her, anger and despair weighing her to spot. All she could do was hug her arms to herself willing to calm down. Her lawyers glanced at the terrified Adora and Lily who had gone still eyes closed over. The lawyer sighed.

"Your Honour. I move for a recess, my clients need some time together themselves before we proceed."

"Recess granted, this court will adjourn till ten o'clock tomorrow"

They were debriefed a bit, Adora couldn't focus. She ate an early dinner with Ms Moon and the others and still couldn't focus the inane talk of grades and television worthless to her. She hid in her room for a while trying to stop thinking about Catra. But she couldn't, there was no use going insane tied in her comforter. She snuck out of the house with practised ease, her wallet for money, a coat for the cold, cell phone and didn't put on her shoes till outside. Then she ran and ran as fast as she could. Adora came to at a bus stop, not her normal one but fuck it. She rode to her city and went to Mara's diner. She wavered standing there at the door. Watching everything inside with a tense feeling.

Adora jumped when a hand hit her shoulder.

"Adora long time no see." Lookie said with a calm smile, "you look like you need a pick me up. Come inside."

Adora didn't move, unsure what to do if she saw Catra.

"She isn't here," Lookie said softly guiding Adora inside.

Mara was bustling around. But managed to toss Adora a ham sandwich and give her coffee as she cooked. Adora sat there for what felt like forever before Mara sat across from her.

"We saw, and heard, you girls fight." She said as she drank coffee.

"I'm sorry, it was..."

"We're no stranger to broken relationships or trauma in this family. Why do you think we were willing to pay Catra under the table at the start? I can't pretend I haven't wondered if don't ask, don't tell was the best method to handle things, but can't be helped now."

"We, me and Lily, we took her to court. If we win, she can't ever hurt us again."

"I'm glad."

"They tied to say I was lying for attention. If it was real abuse we would have done something before."

Mara huffed, "bastards."

Adora sighed picking at her bread, "I wish they had gotten Catra to testify. They brought her up, saying my descriptions about Catra are suspect because she isn't there."

"I don't think she knows." Mara said, "she's been debating checking on Lily."

Adora looked up, "really?"

"Yeah. Not sure social services could have found her anyway, she's staying with a friend."

"Oh. "

Mara scribbled across a piece of paper an address sliding it to Adora with a sad smile, "talk to her."

Adora nodded curtly as got up and left. Once at the house, she breathed deeply and knocked.

"What!" Catra shouted opening the door.

"Catra," Adora said

"Hey, Adora," Catra said leaning against the door frame.

"Shadow Weaver got arrested."

"Cool," Catra said visibly tensing

"I had to testify in court. It was...hard. But I was wondering if you could too. They can also enter your medical records into evidence. We can put her away."

Catra flung herself forward wrapping Adora in her arms. For that fleeting moment, there was a reprieve in the hail of bullets. But Catra quickly let go stumbling backwards into the room. And the bombardment started up again.