Life had become surprisingly boring after leaving Shadow Weaver. She was staying with Scorpia, in what used to be her parents' house but they had fucked off to who knows where giving Scorpia the place. It had been the first time Catra thought she had really seen her look sad, which wanted Catra to go hit those abandoning emotionally neglectful fuckers. Catra hadn't done or said anything though, everything locked up and just watched it happen. At least she didn't leave Scorpia along, she did her best to be a good friend.

Entrapta spent most of her time with them, her robots slowly migrating to what used to be Scorpia's parents' room and was now essentially a workshop. The place was slightly messy as none of the girls gave a fuck what the place looked like. Catra was able to keep their makeshift alliance in food and wifi so for the most part and keep Entrapta and Scorpia mostly out of her work.

Catra slept in the living room, on the ouch, this was after Scorpia had offered her an actual bed. That had been shit and was no logged in her brain due to the embarrassment. It was only a few days into her staying there;

"Catra you know if you're going to be staying here for a long time. You ought to have your own bed."

"What?" Catra said looking up from a laptop.

"Well, I thought you might not want to sleep on the couch anymore."

"Oh. That's nice, thanks" Catra said giving Scorpia an appreciative nod

Scorpia's face broke out into a bright smile. Which much to Catra's annoyance made her almost smile. Scorpia could be tiring but it was also hard to actually ever be mad at her. Being the one who put sadness on her face made her feel like a giant jerk. A mattress had been set up in Scorpia's room with a pillow and blankets. Catra said thanks and curled on the bed.

Only second after she closed her eyes panic ran through her causing her to sit bolt upright. Every time she would fend off fear and guilt would wash over her. She couldn't shake the thought of Adora holding each other, protecting each other, and then hurting each other. If it wasn't that it was Shadow Weaver waking her up with a slap on the face. Somehow Scorpia's breathing made it worse than better, she was with someone but not someone who gave her comfort.

Catra always had a weapon with her, and she no longer slept in just a long shirt, and none of it got rid of the fear. But this was worse like the bed and pillow were personally trying to drown her the coffee and wine stains off the white cloth. She had been extra tired the next day, running on coffee and stress. After another night she had gone back to the couch.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" Scorpia asked as she brushed her teeth.

"Nah. The couch is better." Catra shrugged.

"Are you sure? This is your home too now.'

Catra felt herself wince at the idea of this being home. Home? What was that anymore, "yeah positive."

"Is something wrong with the mattress cause..."

"It makes me think about bad shit alright?"

"Sure okay." Scorpia had responded with a confused expression.

Besides weird shit like that, it had been boring. Working for Hordak and crashing on the couch was better than school and crashing into Shadow Weaver's fists. She still worked for Mara too though, she liked the people. They had slipped easily into giving her shifts during the day after she admitted to dropping out of high school. No questions were asked, probably should have been but whatever. She had secured a life now, Hordak was slowly giving more control, she had a place to sleep, food, money, weapons. It was in her control, even if her anger, fear, guilt and confusion kept trying to drown her, she wouldn't let them.

Of course this manageable if not crazy fun life would not be allowed to continue. She took a long gulp of her beer as she opened the door which was currently being fervently knocked on.

"What!" Catra ground as she yanked it open.

"Catra," Adora said breathlessly. God, there was Adora, her cheeks were pink and hair mussed like she'd been running. She looked all discombobulated a look general only shared with Catra, just for her. Other people probably got this now, got to be close to her. She looked so much like her Adora frazeled, excited and tired. However, the fancy-ass coat was new.

"Hey, Adora," Was the only thing she could think to say. She leaned on the doorframe trying to keep her cool.

"Shadow Weaver got arrested," Adora said staring right into Catra's eyes

"Cool," Catra said just the name made her skin crawl and muscles tighten.

"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." Adora said.

Catra felt confused for a second. Then she was hit Shadow Weaver was gone, she wasn't in that house like a ghost. Adora was actually on her side for once. A wave of excitement and relief wash over her. Her best friend had her back, finally. Some old urge came over her and Catra leapt forward embracing Adora. But when the high wore off Catra let go. Like her hands had been burned remembering everything else. She stepped back and fell on her ass tripping over something on the ground.

She looked up at the distressed Adora from her place on the floor.

"Come in if you wanna," She muttered getting to her feet.

Scorpia and Entrapta were starring from the corner.

"You've met Scorpia, that's Entrapta," Catra said as she shut the door.

"I'm Adora" Adora shrugged.

"You the one who Catra likes to rant about," Entrapta said walking around Adora with her mad scientist face. "Many people involved with Hordak seem to find you powerful and even a past threat. They seem to think a 15-year-old who took down a grown man was impressive. I must agree speciesism is strong but lacks size and likely lacked more strength at a younger age. Conclusion."

"What is going on?" Adora said looking deeply uncomfortable.

"That's enough Entrapta." Catra sighed, "You can ask her about fighting techniques another time."

"If you can make effective use of a small knife what could you do with one of mine?" Entrapta said clapping her hands. She disappeared behind her door.

"Right," Adora said

"Sit down," Catra said pulling the blanket she used off on the couch cushions.

"So will you?"

"Will I what?" Catra asked.

"Testify, against Shadow Weaver."

"I don't know. I've been avoiding those people and school. I don't need them."

"Maybe you don't. But it's the right thing to do."

"Why do I care about the right thing?" Catra growled

"Then do it for revenge." Adora snapped.

"I do like revenge," Catra said leaning back on the couch. A chill calm slid over her. Killing the emotion that had roared up in her after seeing Adora.

"Good right. It's difficult to go through everything we've been through and courtrooms suck. But I think you can do it, just say what happened."

"Right I will." Catra shrugged.

"Alright. I'll text you the address and time to be there."

"Sure."

"Bye."

"Bye Adora."

After Adora left Catra curled on the couch pulling the blanket over her head. Shutting out the world, the cold that killed emotion seemed to leave her frozen all over.

Catra went to the courthouse and stood in front of the door Adora told him to go to. She knocked and was quickly engulfed by so much noise her hair stood on end and fought the urge to curl in a ball or run the fuck away. But what she got was she was supposed to explain all the abuse while questioning, a doctor also seemed really excited to enter her medical records into evidence. Which made Catra feel moderately ill, the idea of having her broken bones, concussions, infections threw up in front of the world.

The questioning from their side sucked enough. She described everything Shadow Weaver did, Carta kept meeting the death glare of the women she had never wanted to see again. It seemed even at this point the expression made her blood curdle. Then she had to be questioned by Shadow Waver's defender. Though he seemed to not really want to, just trying to trip her up on timelines, however, he did manage to call her a liar even if it was venomless. But Catra was gifted with the ability to shut off the implication of being a problem child. Even being called a liar or deserving couldn't shake her up. It was her time for revenge and fuck anyone trying to make her feel so small again.

After leaving the stand all of the audience was looking at her with pity. The stupid little girl hated by everyone, the terrified child who ran away from mommy, so pathetic she'd been abused by everyone she met. Never good enough, just a fuck up. But what they didn't get, she wasn't just a crying child anymore. They didn't seem to understand when you grow up in the constant violent war you don't always become some shrinking violet sometimes you're a soldier painted red.

The doctor took the stand explaining all the ex-rays pointed to violence and defensive wounds. The lack of proper or time medical care given. Hell her brain was apparently fucked all to hell due to concussion on concussion on concussion.

"These injuries could only be caused by abuse. But say could outside fights cause this degree of injury" The Corsseaminer asked.

"Some of them could be caused by fights. But I don't understand what six years old is picking fights with people who could snap her arm with one blow. Or wrenching wrist wounds. And the lack of care is also concerning."

"I know people often don't understand the severity of injuries and illness. I think jumping to malice is a bit unfair."

"Well no. Large infected wounds being left untreated on a child is legally neglect. Medications not ever being properly paid for shows willful maltreatment. The fact a 15-year-old girl tried to pay for penicillin with cash also shows the adult was not involved. The fact a seven-year-old had alcohol in their system also shows abuse."

"Ah, no further questions."

Catra did not even hear the closing arguments her brain blocked everything out. They had lunch in their prep room. It was a bunch of bad Quiznos sandwiches. For the most part, the others ignored her until Ms Ra dragged her into the hallway.

"What do you want?" Catra hissed

"I thought you'd want to have this conversation away from the others."

"What conversation?"

"Well, you seem to have dropped off the face of the planet. And technically you are still a minor, it's my job to get you into a new foster home."

Catra snorted this lady was delusional, "Yeah no. Not gonna happen."

"Well if you want to be emancipated. I recommend you come after this to a group home. You can apply while your there."

"I don't need you, or anyone. The idea you think I'd trust you people ever again is naive"

"Yes, I know you believe that. But the fact you came here, shows you have trust in the system."

"No, I don't. I did it for Adora and Lilly." Catra explained, then cringed. God, her mouth had decided to tell the truth unintentionally.

"I understand."

"No, you don't"

Before Ms Ra could reply they were called into hearing the jury.

"Your Honour. We have reached a conclusion. On the matter of child neglect and endangerment, we find her, guilty. On the counts of child abuse, we find guilty. On the charge of aggravated assault, we find her guilty."

Catra's breath caught in her throat.