Author's Notes:

Hey, again...

Yeah, I have nothing to say except I wrote this the second day after I've begun writing this story.

… I don't know whether I should be proud or terrified of myself.

Histories and Chemistries

VII

Catra had always been such a wildcard, even before the whole horde thing.

Ever since Adora could remember, the noirette would always do things that didn't really make sense to her. And she never explained herself either. She just did things and Adora had to accept it.

As time went on and the kid became a mature, thoughtful teenager who began to see the difference between right and wrong, one would think that her craziness would be toned down.

… But in reality, the opposite happened.

…

It was the worst test Adora had to take yet.

Four whole chapters. A hundred questions or maybe more.

She'd heard from The Princesses themselves. How brutal it was. And how even they weren't sure if they'd make it out okay.

She couldn't afford a B, or worse, a B minus.

No, no, no. She was She-Ra! She had to set an example for all of the other students! She needed to get an A! Or at least an A minus! Anything below that was- was- it simply wouldn't do!

Which was why she was still in school even after the last bell rang, sitting in an empty classroom, papers and textbooks surrounding her like mountains as she tried to cram up all of materials into her brain.

She didn't know how long she'd been here or what time it was. All she knew was that she still couldn't understand when to use the first formula and when not to use it.

"Hey, Adora."

She didn't even need to glance at her right to know that the noirette was there, probably pocketing her hands in her jacket and wearing that infuriating smile again.

"What? You don't wanna even look at me?"

She hummed in affirmative.

"You know you're a mess right now, right?"

She hummed for the sake of humming.

"Are you even listening right now?"

She hummed to whatever the noirette was asking her.

"Ugh. It's like I'm your babysitter or something."

Suddenly, her textbook was snatched away from her. Looking up, she groaned at the sight of a bored-looking Catra, who was reading her book with as little interest as possible.

She wanted to get angry at her… but couldn't find the energy to do so. "Catra… Can we not do this now?"

The noirette didn't acknowledge her much rather than give her a short glance and ask, "Why? Are you busy?"

She gestured to the piles and piles of notes and textbooks and papers from previous tests. "Yes, actually."

Catra snapped the book shut and looked down at her in amusement. "No you're not." She then fished something out of her jacket, ignoring the burning glare Adora sent her way. That 'something' turned out to be a crumpled paper. Catra unfolded it rather carefully before plopping it to her desk. "Here."

Adora blinked and took the paper. Her jaw dropped lower and lower the longer she read the content inside. "What-?"

"The questions for your test."

"But-"

"It's not cheating if you don't really know the answers." Catra gave her an unconvincing wink. Adora looked back down on the paper, biting her lip. Did she seriously break into the teacher's room just for this…? For… For her?

Adora remembered her short encounter with the noirette yesterday night. Catra's words about how she'd keep on trying. All for her.

Why, though?

Catra crouched down so they were eye-level and she waggled her eyebrows with a goofy, cute grin. "C'mon, you don't actually know if this is the real questions for the test… even though it totally is," she whispered.

Adora stared at her. She kept waggling her eyebrows, her grin widening.

Eventually, she gave with a groan, smacking her hand to her face. "Fine. Now get out of here."

"No can do."

She pulled down her hand with a light frown. "What?"

"I'm staying here, with you, watching you until you're done."

Before Adora could say anything about it, Catra was already making herself at home, sitting next to her, feet on top of the desk, hands propping her head after she pulled out her headphones.

And for a long while, Adora simply stared.

Eventually, she asked the question that had lingered in her head for too long.

"Why are you doing this?"

Catra's eyes blinked open from her little nap. Slowly, she turned her head to face her, and Adora waited with bated breath for an answer.

Those magnificent eyes bore deeply into her own ones, and with the way she was looking at her so intently… Adora couldn't help but feel exposed.

Catra had this look on her face, one that was reserved for her and her only. It was hard to explain what kind of look she was giving. It was as if she was conflicted, lost, resigned, but also… caring, warm, loving…

Whenever Catra gave her that look, Adora always felt something sparking between them. Something that was more than just a simple friendship.

And maybe…

Maybe Adora was beginning to realize what that 'something' was.

Maybe, just maybe, she finally began to understand what they were.

What they had always been.

What she wanted them to be.

And then Catra gave her an answer.

And that answer was a simple smile - a smile that was anything but happy - before she closed her eyes again, drowning out everything with her music.

And Adora's heart sank.

Oh. That's right. Catra doesn't answer to anyone. She never explains herself.

Because that was just who she was.

Adora stared back at the paper… and then realized she couldn't focus. Not with Catra sitting next to her. Instead, she packed it in her bag to study when she was at home and asked, "How did you even know I was here?"

Catra pulled down her headphones before answering, "Glitter told me."

"You mean Glimmer?"

"Yeah," she drawled, waving her hand off-handedly, "Glamour."

Adora smiled. Catra didn't seem to dislike Glimmer and vice-versa… They were far from being friends, of course, but they didn't want to tear each other's throats out, and that was… nice.

Catra was grinning at her as she helped her pack up her books.

Adora stared at her as she slung her heavy bag over her shoulder.

"... This doesn't mean I forgive you."

Catra smiled cheekily. "I know."

"Are you going to keep trying?"

Catra didn't answer. She simply gave her a wink and a "Bye, Adora" before turning to leave.

It took Adora a couple of minutes to calm her soaring heart and melting brain.

Yeah…

She was starting to find out just what exactly it was she was feeling towards Catra.

To be Continued

Author's Notes:

So… Adora's finally figuring out her massive crush towards our kitty. And Catra's being a good, sarcastic bean, as always.

The next chapter will feature a cameo from all the other princesses. Sure, their roles are small, all things considered, but hey, it's still fun to write them! Hopefully it'll be fun for you to read them as well :3

See ya later~